Mark - Kaitiaki Māori

Meet Mark, a Victoria University of Wellington MMHP graduate, who holds the position Kaitiaki Māori at Te Papa Tongarewa.

Kaitiaki Collection Manager, Te Papa Tongarewa Ngāti Rangitihi, Te Whanau a Ruataupare, Ngāti Porouati Porou

In 2004 I started studying at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in Whakatane and graduated with a Bachelor of Art and Visual Culture. In my last year of study I completed Museum Studies as one of my papers. This led on to an internship at Whakatāne Museum and Arts. On completion of the internship I decided to pursue my studies and enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Museum and Heritage Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

My first practicum was with Te Papa Tongarewa working with Awhina Tamarapa in the textile collection. This led on to contract work and finally I applied for a position of Kaitiaki Māori and started full time in 2013. This role has given me amazing opportunities in terms of working with some of the Nations most important Māori Taonga and also the Mātauranga associated with this position. I have been priviledged over this time to work alongside scholars and other Māori in museums which has given me an insight into the cultural aspects of museology and the importance for Māori to be Kaitiaki of their collections.

In 2018 I completed the MMHP by undertaking an internship at Te Papa Tongarewa.

Combining my art practice of raranga (weaving) with my work in the textile collections has given me the opportunity to contribute my mātauranga to the wider community. In return my raranga has benefited from this engagement with the Māori art community.

Museum and Heritage Studies challenged my perception of museums and their relationships with Māori. Conal was instrumental in helping me understand how Māori Kaitiaki in museums can teach and inform the institutions ensuring that the cultural practices are observed and also that the importance of this aspect of our Kaitiakitanga is preserved.