Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Formalises Partnership with Oxford University for Māori Curatorial Residencies

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has formalized a strategic partnership with the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum and the Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust. This collaboration establishes curatorial residences for Māori experts at the museum, beginning later this year. The program allows individuals with backgrounds in caring for taonga Māori to spend three months at Oxford, with travel, accommodation, and stipends covered. Participants will engage with Western curators to exchange knowledge on indigenous and Western approaches to heritage care, focusing on decolonization, repatriation, and repair. Evie O’Brien, Chief Executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, emphasized that the initiative aims to build capacity within iwi and hapū to manage taonga independently, ultimately supporting the return of cultural heritage to local museums. The partnership builds on historical ties dating back to the 1920s involving scholar Mākereti Papakura. It reflects a shared commitment to radical inclusion and addressing the provenance of indigenous items held in international institutions, fostering a reciprocal relationship that respects both Māori tikanga and museum practices.