Mana Taonga and the micro world of intricate research and findings around taonga Māori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Abstract

At the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa) an important principle known as Mana Taonga guides the practice of all staff and their work with collections of art, cultural, natural and historic material, including taonga Māori. The principle is an encompassing concept premised on values and modes of understanding that are intrinsically Māori, but observed for all the collections housed and cared for within Te Papa. Within the context of Aotearoa museum studies, this paper examines how this principle is pertinent for Māori curators who are involved in intricate and intimate research around Māori communal treasures.