Nau mai ki te kawerongo o Ngā Taonga
Welcome to our newsletter

Kia ora e hoa, in this issue we take a look at a remarkable documentary and panel discussion about the one and only Carmen Rupe. We track how the work of iconic artist Len Lye inspired a recent range from Belgian fashion designer Dries van Noten. Plus a further look at how New Zealanders commemorate Waitangi Day and some material about the country’s largest iwi, Ngāpuhi. 

Madam Carmen

🌈 It's Pride season! This time last year we hosted a screening of Carmen (1989) – a fantastical look at the life of the iconic performer and activist Carmen Rupe (1936–2011), which was followed by a brilliant paewhiri kōrero (panel discussion) on gender fluidity and identity. On our blog you can watch both the documentary and kōrero – it's in both English and te reo Māori.

Ko te wā Takatāpui tēnei! I tērā tau i whakaaturia e mātou te kiriata Carmen – he mea whakaahua i te ao o te māreikura, arā a Carmen Rupe. Te pai hoki o te kiriata! Ka mutu whaimuri i taua whakaaturanga ko tētehi paewhiri kōrero e pā ana ki te irarere me te tuakiri ā-ira. Kei te rangitaki nei te pakipūmeka hei mātakitaki māu, me ngā kōrero kei te reo Māori, Pākehā hoki.

A Colourful Collaboration

The work of artist Len Lye (1901–1980) is much-loved and incredibly innovative. Ngā Taonga cares for Lye’s films and his collection is overseen and championed by the Len Lye Foundation. The Foundation was approached by Belgian fashion designer Dries van Noten about a collaboration and the resulting range is sublime. Read more about how this project came together and take a look at the final results.

Commemorating Waitangi Day

Our Reflecting on Waitangi blog has been updated with a recording of the discussion 'E oho! How New Zealanders commemorate Waitangi Day' – filmed at the National Library, home of He Tohu which holds Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Hear from Kura Moeahu, Professor Rawinia Higgins and Samuel Carpenter about their personal experiences and beliefs around Waitangi Day, and watch our compilation of film and TV coverage of Waitangi Day celebrations since 1940 

Ngāpuhi kōhao rau
– Focus on Ngāpuhi

E pōhihia ana e mātou he rauemi mō Ngāpuhi ā te marama nei. I kitea ēnei taonga e mātou:

• He waiata nā Ngāpuhi nō te tau 1957, 
• He waiata anō nā Te Hikuwai Hēmi i waiata.

• Ngāpuhi songs recorded in 1957, and
• Other songs performed by Te Hikuwai Hēmi.

• New Plymouth’s Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is screening Rewi’s Last Stand (1949) at 2pm on Saturday 20 March, and at 4pm on Sunday 11 April and Sunday 2 May. 

• Check out the Chilcott album – more than 450 photos of projectionists and cinemas around the country taken between 1930 and 1989. It was donated by projectionist Charlie Chilcott and his wife Joy.  

• Here’s one for true crime fans – one of New Zealand's most sensational trials is well-captured in 1997's The Trial: Crown v Calder. 

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