Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art, RNZ Podcast Launch

Join us to celebrate the upcoming launch of new limited series podcast, Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art. Hosted by Matariki Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hauiti, Taranaki, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) and produced by Jamie Tahana (Te Arawa: Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino, Tapuika), Pūtātara dives into the sociopolitical context around which Māori art has evolved and revolved, opening with the first Ngā Puna Waihanga hui in Te Kaha in 1973 and taking us right up to 2025. We journey with artists to the landmark show Te Māori opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1984, the opening of Te Papa in 1998, along with key events that have offered new ways of thinking about Māori art. Critically, it examines the role of the museum and the gallery—then and now—and explores what Māori artists aspire to in 2026 and beyond.

Pūtātara joins Tukua and Orators Anonymous as part of a trio of arts and culture podcasts commissioned through a Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ co-fund, in response to the New Mirrors research, which focused on how we might strengthen arts and culture media in Aotearoa New Zealand.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This event is free.
This event is held in the gallery at Artspace Aotearoa.
This location is accessible.
Light refreshments will be available.

BIOGRAPHIES

Jamie Tahana (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino, Tapuika) is a journalist, writer, and broadcaster who has worked extensively across Aotearoa and the Pacific. His work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, BBC, E-Tangata, The Spinoff, and Metro, and he has worked on Indigenous media projects and initiatives overseas, including for UNESCO. He spent several years at RNZ, including as Māori News Editor, before heading to London for his OE.

Matariki Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hauiti, Taranaki, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) is a curator, writer, and editor in the arts and cultural sector. In 2024-2025, Matariki held the Oroya Day Fellowship in New Zealand Art History in the Art History programme at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, focusing on the continuum of Māori art practice, and taught the pilot Te Tohu Tiaki Taonga programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Previous roles include Senior Historian, Mātauranga Māori at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Senior Curator Mātauranga Māori at Te Papa Tongarewa. She is a committee member for Te Hā o Ngā Pou Kaituhi Māori - National Māori Writers Network. Matariki lives and works in Whakatāne.