Awhina Tamarapa

Awhina Tamarapa has over 25-years’ experience working in museums, and her research focuses on Māori art, music, and technology.

Ahakoa taku iti, he iti nō te kōpua kānapanapa
Although it is small, it comes from a deep wellspring. (Ngāti Kahungunu proverb)

Awhina Tamarapa, who has tribal affiliations to Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruanui, and Ngāti Pikiao, is in the first year of a PhD in the Museum and Heritage Studies programme, which is now part of the Stout Research Centre, Awhina has an MPhil in museum studies from Massey University (2015), a BA in Māori laws and philosophy from Te Wānanga o Raukawa (2003) and a BA from Victoria University of Wellington majoring in Anthropology (1993).

Awhina has worked in museums for more than 25 years, as a collection manager, concept developer and Māori curator at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She has curated exhibitions for Te Papa, including Kahu Ora/Living Cloaks (2012) and the Ngāti Toa Rangatira iwi exhibition, Whiti Te Ra! The Story of Ngāti Toa Rangatira (2013–2017). Awhina edited Whatu Kākahu/Māori Cloaks (2011), a new edition of which will be published by Te Papa Press in August 2019.

Before embarking on full-time study in 2019, Awhina worked for the Horowhenua District Council as the principal advisor of culture and exhibitions, developing exhibitions for the community library in Levin, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, and the new cultural community facility in Foxton, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. Awhina is also a teaching fellow in the Museum Heritage Studies programme, coordinating the course MHST 515 Museums and Māori and the annual wānanga held at Hongoeka marae near Plimmerton.

Awhina’s research interests are Māori art, weaving, stone tool technology, taonga pūoro (Māori musical instruments), and tribal mōteatea (historical songs). Her doctoral research explores the role of museums in the maintenance of Māori weaving as a living art practice.