Exhibition Curator, Dougal Austin returns Nelson as he celebrates the release of his new book, Te Hei Tiki

Te Hei Tiki

Tues 15 Oct, 5.30-6.30pm

Presented by Dougal Austin, Senior Curator Matauranga Māori, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Dougal Austin’s book, Te Hei Tiki, is the culmination of around ten years of thorough research into the hei tiki art form, and marks the break in a 50-year hiatus of book publications dedicated solely to this art form since H.D. Skinner’s 1966 booklet Hei-Tiki (Otago Museum Trust Board).

Launching Te Hei Tiki, Austin’s talk on the subject comes to the Nelson Provincial Museum tonight in association with its current exhibition, Kura Pounamu: Our treasured stone, which he co-curated for initial presentation at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in 2008. The talk will take a look at key pieces on display – including the background to their selection – alongside other hei tiki outside of the exhibition critical to our understanding of this exalted Māori adornment.

You can find out more about the talk on the Nelson Provincial Museum’s website here.

Copies of Te Hei Tiki will be available to purchase as part of a book signing activity on the night, or on an ongoing basis through the Museum’s retail space.

Kaitiaki of traditional pounamu taonga are invited to bring along and share their taonga with Austin and Museum staff for discussion after the talk.

Read more about Dougal Austin and Te Hei Tiki

Take a look inside Te Hei Tiki

Booking not necessary. Koha/donation appreciated.