25 May 2025
Creative New Zealand is supporting seven invited Māori and Pasifika artists to attend the reopening of the Arts of Oceania galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which will reopen on 31 May after a multi-year renovation, houses the collections of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania.
The Arts of Oceania, overseen by Māori (Ngāi Tai) curator, Dr Maia Nuku (John A. Friede and A. J. Hall Curator for the Arts of Oceania at The Met), has undergone a significant transformation and revitalisation with the addition of new works from New Zealand artists, including Dr. Fiona Pardington MNZM (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Clan Cameron of Erracht), who will represent Aotearoa at the Venice Biennale in 2026.
Hāniko Te Kurapa, Senior Manager Te Kaupapa, explains the whakapapa between Creative New Zealand and The Met dates back to the mid-1970s, and is rooted in developments initiated by Hamish Keith during his tenure as Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (now Creative New Zealand) from 1975 to 1981.
“Hamish Keith introduced transformative policies that shifted New Zealand's arts landscape, notably, with the establishment of the Māori and South Pacific Arts Council (MASPAC) in 1978. This was instrumental in elevating Māori and Pacific arts. MASPAC helped shift the way Māori art was seen – from ‘anthropological artefacts’ to a living, dynamic cultural expression,” Hāniko says.
A significant milestone resulting from this was the 1984 exhibition Te Māori at The Met. Te Māori was groundbreaking, marking the first time Māori art was shown internationally with full iwi authority. The exhibition was co-curated by Māori anthropologist and artist Sir Hirini Moko Mead, among others.
The opening of the new collections marks 40 years since Te Māori opened at The Met in 1984, before eventually travelling further around the United States.
Puamiria Parata-Goodall, member of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, will join the delegation; Goodall’s presence is particularly meaningful, having been a rangatahi performer for Te Māori when it toured to its final U.S location, Chicago, in 1986. She says Te Māori changed the way the world saw Māori art.
“The ongoing relationship with The Met has its genesis in Te Māori. The Met was one of the first international museums to work with Māori to recognise the mana of our artforms. Our artforms speak to our identity. Having Maia Nuku as the lead curator for this project helping to tell our stories in that space, gives our taonga back their voice. It is significant that our taonga and our people continue to stand on the world’s stage,” says Puamiria.
Today, over four decades later, Creative New Zealand continues to foster its relationship with The Met.
Makerita Urale, Senior Manager Pacific Arts, says the long relationship with The Met has produced numerous collaborations, most recently an exhibition by Niuean artist John Pule and an early exhibition by Yuki Kihara in 2008.
“We are proud to support three Pasifika artists under the Pacific Arts Strategy, which aligns with our Global Pacific arts priority area. They’ll have the opportunity to share their creative practice via engagement events and connect with other invited artists from Pacific Island countries, which also aligns with our priority area to strengthen relationships with Oceania,” says Makerita.
Aimed at building long-term international opportunities for artists with The Met, the supported artists will participate in the customary opening with the Māori and Pacific delegations. The artists will engage with other artists and participate in workshops and performances over the week.
The Met will host an official press preview on 28 May, offering media access to curatorial comment and guided tours of the new galleries.
The seven Aotearoa Māori and Pasifika artists invited and attending the reopening are:
- Sofia Tekela-Smith, Artist (Scottish/Rotuma)
- Raymond Sagapolutele, Visual Artist (Samoan – Fatuvalu/Saluafata)
- Benjamin Work, Visual Artist (Scottish/Tongan – Ha'a Lātūhifo/Orkney)
- Ataraiti Waretini, Kaiwhatu (Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Tainui, Te Rarawa)
- Tangimoe Clay, Kairaranga (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Ngahere)
- Lewis Whaitiri, Kairaranga (Te Tairāwhiti)
- Puamiria Parata-Goodall, Kapa Haka and member of Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha and Ngāti Kahungunu).
For further information, please contact:
Lucy Orbell
Senior Communications Advisor, Creative New Zealand
lucy.orbell@creativenz.govt.nz
Matafanua Tamatoa
Senior Communications Advisor – Pacific, Creative New Zealand
matafanua.tamatoa@creativenz.govt.nz
Hania Douglas
Senior Communications Advisor – Māori, Creative New Zealand
hania.douglas@creativenz.govt.nz
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