Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao – A Meeting of Worlds: New Exhibition at MOTAT’s Walsh Memorial Library
Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao – A Meeting of Worlds: New Exhibition at MOTAT’s Walsh Memorial Library
MEDIA RELEASE: 1 September 2025
A powerful new exhibition, Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao – A Meeting of Worlds, has opened at MOTAT’s Walsh Memorial Library, inviting you into a time when te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā first converged on the printed page.
Among the taonga on display is a rare 1837 print copy of He Whakaputanga – a foundational declaration by rangatira of Te Tai Tokerau affirming the sovereignty (rangatiratanga) of hapū and the land of Aotearoa.
The narrative is guided by Eru Kapa-Kingi, a descendant of He Whakaputanga signatories, as well as Auckland Law School academic and Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson. Through his expertise and deep whakapapa connections, Eru offers a perspective grounded in lived heritage.
"This kaupapa is like a riponga, a small ripple that could eventually make waves of change in the space of telling indigenous truth, and story sovereignty. Nau mai tātou," says Eru.
He is joined by filmmaker Heperi Mita, whose cinematic response brings to life the messages within these early printed works. Together, they bring a vibrant and contemporary lens to the story of print in Aotearoa.
Through their whakapapa, expertise, and creative vision, Eru and Heperi bring new light to these materials – showing how Māori engaged with emerging print technology while safeguarding the integrity of oral tradition.
Their collaboration offers visitors an opportunity to reflect on the endurance of te reo, the cultural and political weight of the printed word, and the complexities of early cultural exchange in Aotearoa. It also gestures towards the future, considering how emerging technologies might continue to shape and transform our collective narratives.
“There were multiple layers of insight in working with these taonga,” says Heperi. “The immediate impact was seeing the reo of this era, and recognising and connecting to the signatories of He Wakaputanga. Then was there was the realisation that these documents marked the transition of an oral tradition into a written one. And finally there is the social and political and even spiritual legacy of these documents that continue to be grappled with to this day.”
MOTAT is honoured to support this kaupapa by opening its collection and resources so that Māori voices are at the centre.
“Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao is a truly tātou tātou kaupapa,” says Kayla Harrison, MOTAT’s People and Culture Advisor – Kaupapa Māori.
“For the first time at MOTAT, Māori have led the shaping of an exhibition, with our role being to support, not direct. It reflects a shift in our practice, and a commitment to uphold mana motuhake, tikanga, mātauranga, and whakapapa.”
Other featured taonga include He Papakupu (Dictionary), and Te Paipera Tapu (Holy Bible).
Head of Library and Archives, Simon Wetherill, acknowledges that questions will arise as to why MOTAT holds these items in the collection.
“MOTAT does not immediately spring to mind holding an item such as He Whakaputanga in its collection. While documents can be reproduced with contemporary materials and inks, having a print from the time holds significant historic value, and that is not to even address the significance of the content and meaning of He Whakaputanga to the communities of Te Tai Tokerau and beyond. We believe we are a suitable custodian. Preservation and accessibility are key to ensure our tamariki and mokopuna are able to engage with the history of Aotearoa first hand. The Walsh Memorial Library team and I are very proud to support and host this exhibition.”
Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao – A Meeting of Worlds opens Monday 1 September in the Walsh Memorial Library at MOTAT Great North Road. The Library is open Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm.
Visit MOTAT.NZ: https://motat.nz/exhibitions/to-ao-ki-toku-ao-a-meeting-of-worlds/
ENDS
For more information, imagery or interviews, contact Samantha Perry, Head of Brand and Communications: samantha.perry@motat.org.nz or phone 021 680 335