National Library of New Zealand 
Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa 
Returning to the traditional home of knowledge

by Penny Carnaby
National Library of New Zealand  Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa

We provide access to the nation's documentary heritage, we preserve this heritage so that future generations of New Zealanders can explore and enjoy it, we provide resources to schools that support all teaching and learning in New Zealand, and we foster relationships with communities, including Maori, in New Zealand and throughout the world.

One of the ways that we provide access to our heritage collection is by bringing treasures from our Library to the public, by presenting the collections through visual stories.

Our most popular exhibition in recent years has been Kahungunu ka moe...ka puta, meaning Kahungunu to marry...to begat.

The concept for the exhibition Kahungunu ka moe...ka puta was initially developed by the National Library of New Zealand in discussion with the late Ngati Kahungunu tribal elder Tohara Mohi in 1998.  Ngati Kahungunu is a Maori tribe located on the East coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

Kahungunu is dedicated to making the Library's collections, along with material from private collections and other institutions, accessible to the Ngati Kahungunu tribe and the people of New Zealand. The exhibition consisted of treasures such as cloaks, tools and weapons, and images of Ngati Kahungunu tribal ancestors (tipuna).

The Kahungunu exhibition has been held in the Library's Gallery, and also in three of the tribal homes of Ngati Kahungunu. During the third showing of the exhibition, in Masterton, exit interviews were conducted with visitors as they left the venue.

These exit interviews showed that 97 percent of visitors were 'Satisfied' or 'Very satisfied', with only 0.5 percent of visitors 'Dissatisfied', with Kahungunu ka moe...ka puta. 

Visitors were asked what the exhibition meant to them personally. They responded by saying that they found the experience something that was very personal, spiritual and emotional that created a sense of connectiveness that previously they had not felt before when visiting an exhibition. For many, the sense of place and belonging created by the exhibition was awe-inspiring. Some comments were:
'It was touching and inspirational.'
'It made me think.'
'It was an awakening time for me.'
'Spiritually, emotionally, I am full of the knowledge of my tipuna.'

What was initially a partnership between the National Library of New Zealand and the Ngati Kahungunu tribe is now an empowering, tribally driven enterprise.  It has brought to the fore a sense of national patrimony and a national ownership of the collections through accessibility.

Kahungunu ka moe...ka puta has boosted confidence in the small rural communities on the East coast of New Zealand, and indeed the greater tribal district.  The exhibition has allowed the people to shape it, to tell their stories - by the people, for the people and with the people.  It ignited a new-found sense of tribal pride and a great sense of satisfaction to those who participated in the exhibition.

Partnerships between the National Library of New Zealand and its exhibition partners are based on sharing, trust and a willingness to work to achieve common aims. The concept of partnership, particularly with Maori, is central to our core business.

As I stated in my address to the people of the Ngati Kahungunu tribe during the fourth showing within tribal boundaries, "Kahungunu ka moe... ka puta is an exercise in partnership, protection and participation."

We commend this process to all our international colleagues working with communities of all descriptions.

 Penny Carnaby
Chief Executive and National Librarian
National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa