The closing of the Ū Mai ko te taniwha exhibition at the Wairoa Museum was marked by the presentation of three handmade, printed and published books.

The exhibition, which combined ancient and modern knowledge, was launched in August by Te Reinga storyteller Richard Niania (Ngai Kohatu) and photographer and academic Dr Joyce Campbell.

Joyce, from Auckland University, grew up in Mangapoike and teamed up with kaumātua Richard Niania who has researched the whakapapa of tipuna and the water flowing through and around Whakapunake o te mātau ā Māui tikitiki a Taranga.

The collaborative exhibition drew on Richard’s deep knowledge, with Joyce capturing aspects of sites of significance within her images. A gigantic 20 x24 camera and a LiDAR camera were used to portray the connection between the taniwha, the whenua, and the people.

Saturday’s closing included a final floor talk from the artists and the presentation of three large books to the Wairoa Library, Wairoa Primary School and The National Library of New Zealand. The books capture the exhibition’s contents and were covered in harakeke (flax) paper, handprinted on a printing press and then bound.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little described the work of Richard and Joyce as amazing. “Not only have they captured and recorded these stories, but they have also shared their work with the community and then gone on to preserve this taonga through the books.

“The closing of the exhibition was a really special occasion. Congratulations to Museum Director Clare Butler for the work she has done. This exhibition is a great reminder of the importance of the museum. We must never lose this facility which celebrates both our future and our past.”

Caption:

Kaumātua Richard Niania and Dr Joyce Campbell gifting a copy of one of three handprinted books to Mayor Craig Little

25 September 2024

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