Nuclear Free. Ihumātao. Universal Suffrage...through history New Zealanders have been staunch about standing up for what they believe in. In Protest: Tautohetohe (Te Papa Press) curators Stephanie Gibson, Matariki Williams and Puawai Cairns present a hardback showcasing objects of resistance, persistence and defiance over the last 150 years.
Assembled from items in Te Papa's own collection, and those sourced from other museums, activists and curators, the book contains everything from ploughs to placards, to dresses, banners, and a pair of very special anti-nuclear protest undies! And according to the authors, it's the stories behind the objects that are every bit as important as the items themselves.
Kim is joined by Stephanie Gibson and Puawai Cairns to discuss some of the objects they've selected.
(L-R) Stephanie Gibson, Matariki Williams and Puawai Cairns
Cross-tree from a niu, 1800s. Te Papa (ME001431).
Howard Morrison Quartet GH009828
Defaced national military service forms, 1971–72. Archives NZ (LW2612 Box 4 24/1/50).
Defaced national military service forms, 1971–72. Archives NZ (LW2612 Box 4 24/1/50).
Display of badges, 1980s. Te Papa (GH020698).
La Bombe, 1988. Made by Lisa McEwan. Te Papa (GH018236). Photograph by Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
Manga Kahu/Maunga Kahu T-shirt, 2009. Made by Denis O’Reilly. Te Papa (ME024195).
‘Biko’ banner, 1981/1985. Made by Graeme Easte. Te Papa (GH017813).
‘E Tu! Stand with Standing Rock’ protest T-shirt, 2016. Produced by Tikidub Productions for Toka Tu. Te Papa (ME024202).
Mural, posters and signs at Ihumātao, 2019. Photographed by Qiane Matata-Sipu.
Mural, posters and signs at Ihumātao, 2019. Photographed by Qiane Matata-Sipu.
‘Hikoi for Ihumātao poster’, 2019. Illustrated by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho.
Women’s Suffrage Petition (first sheet), 1893. Produced by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Archives NZ (Le1 1893/7a (R17687659)).
Aramoana Passport, December 1980. Produced by the Save Aramoana Campaign. Hocken Collections (MS-2124/043).
