Chile hosts living Maori art, culture (+ video)

The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Nga Kete Tuku Iho kapa haka group who will perform alongside the Tuku Iho exhibition, which has opened in Santiago, Chile.

Rotorua Maori culture is being showcased on the world stage again through a living art exhibition, Tuku Iho, which has opened in Santiago, Chile.

Tuku Iho Living Legacy is an exhibition of time-honoured Maori artworks, including more than 80 pieces of art made from wood, pounamu (greenstone), bone, stone, bronze and flax, created at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI).

Tuku Iho also includes a living culture component, with a kapa haka group touring and performing alongside - two performers of the group travelled to Chile immediately following their performances last week at Te Matatini, New Zealand's national kapa haka competition.

The exhibition's South American debut will be in Santiago, Chile until May, before moving on to Argentina in June, and Brazil later in the year. The South American tour follows successful and well-received exhibitions in China and Malaysia in 2013 and 2014.

NZMACI director Karl Johnstone said Tuku Iho was a tribute to the Maori culture and a way to extend and reconnect New Zealand's indigenous roots to cultures around the globe.

"It provides an opportunity for our artists and performers to interact with the arts community and exhibition visitors, providing insights about Maori culture and connecting the art to the people it comes from."

Mr Johnstone said the opening exhibition also built on a relationship forged between Chile and New Zealand during the 2013 Waka Tapu journey to Rapa Nui, a special territory of Chile. The journey involved two traditional double-hulled waka hourua (Maori sailing canoes), which voyaged 10,000 nautical miles over 10 months to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and back, to close the final corner of the Polynesian Triangle.

"Tuku Iho is a core representation of our mandate and the work we do. It helps preserve and promote Maori culture, allowing us to foster a wider awareness of Maori stories, values and traditions. It also reflects the passing down of knowledge to preserve our unique cultural heritage," Mr Johnstone said.

The official opening of the exhibition will involve a series of high-profile events and activities, designed to engage and acknowledge key stakeholders, including tourism, business and education sectors.

New Zealand officials from Tourism NZ, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Education NZ and Te Puia (NZMACI) will be present in Chile to support the exhibition and associated events.

Te Puia chief executive Tim Cossar said the exhibition served to position Rotorua and New Zealand as unique visitor destinations by showcasing culture and history in a visual and genuine way.

"Tuku Iho provides a way to make a connection with people and it literally brings our Rotorua and New Zealand experience to life for everyone.