Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art

Te Kaha, 1973. A group of Māori artists and writers gather, marking a chain reaction of moments and movements around which Māori art has evolved and revolved ever since. Made with the support of the Creative NZ, NZ On Air, and RNZ arts & culture podcast co-fund.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We begin in Te Kaha in 1973, where a group of Māori artists and writers have gathered. Ngā Tamatoa had just burst onto the scene at Waitangi, setting in motion a decade of upheaval and protest.Image courtesy of John MillerTo see more photos from the series, visit the RNZ website here and read more in the Life section hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We travel to New York, 1984, at the opening of Te Māori at the Met. Considered a landmark exhibition, it was met with widespread celebration -- but there were criticisms too.Image courtesy of John MillerTo see more photos from the series, visit the RNZ website here and read more in the Life section hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After touring the U.S., Te Māori came home. It was a hit. It also sparked significant change in the way museums operated in Aotearoa, with ramifications still felt today. We meet a woman who led that charge.Image courtesy of Te ManawaGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

By the time the '90s came, much of the previous decade's activism was starting to bear fruit. A new generation of artists had emerged with some provocative questions.Image courtesy of Buck Nin's whānau and Te Wānaga o Aotearoa.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We return to The Met in 2025 for the opening of its new Oceania Gallery. It had promised to be a reimagining. 40 years on, just how much has changed? Turns out reimagination is in a small town upstate.Photograph by Taylor GalmicheGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With a new wave of Māori artists going international, we reflect on their success and the conversations that are shaping the role of museums and galleries today -- and whether the future needs them.Image by Ben StewartTo see more photos from the series, visit the RNZ website here and read more in the Life section hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details