Welcome home : return, rehabilitation and reconnection; architecture as a kaitiaki for taonga Māori

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Supplementary material

Other Title

Authors

Topless, Jacqueline

Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)

Degree

Master of Architecture (Professional)

Grantor

Unitec Institute of Technology

Date

2019

Supervisors

Schnoor, Christoph
Hoskins, Raoul

Type

Masters Thesis

Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)

Keyword

Puketutu Island (Manukau Harbour, N.Z.)
Te Motu ā Hiaroa
Manukau Harbour (N.Z.)
New Zealand
Māori taonga
tikanga Māori
repatriation of taonga
museum design
museums

ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)

Citation

Topless, J. (2019). Welcome home : return, rehabilitation and reconnection; architecture as a kaitiaki for taonga Māori. (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)). Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4836

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can an architectural intervention facilitate the return of taonga to iwi in Aotearoa/New Zealand? ABSTRACT: Taonga Māori are generally understood as a treasure, or anything of high value. The term has become a part of New Zealand legislation through its inclusion in the Treaty of Waitangi and the Resource Management Act 1991. This project focuses on the importance of the reconnection of taonga to their people. The project uses architectural design as a kaitiakitanga (guardian) to aid in the preservation and retrieval of Taonga Māori, enabling their return to iwi of New Zealand. The resulting building not only provides for preservation of taonga but also accommodates the cultural and spiritual aspects required to facilitate a strong bond between iwi and taonga. This project is intended as a koha (gift) to Māori, in order to enable further development within this field, using architecture in taonga retrieval and rehabilitation. This project is a response to the belief that Māori should create their own cultural centre. The need for a specific centre, such as the one proposed in this study, stems from the existing conflicts between traditional western museum practices and approaches and the spiritual and cultural needs of indigenous people. There are currently limited facilities to aid in culturally appropriate treatment, return, and reconnection of Taonga Māori. Investigation into Tikanga Māori, consultations with Māori cultural and architectural advisors, as well as a culturally based understanding of Puketutu Island, have resulted in the design of a Taonga Rehabilitation Centre.

Publisher

Link to ePress publication

DOI

Copyright holder

Author

Copyright notice

All rights reserved

Copyright license

Available online at