Disquiet: Maori Historical Narratives and the Museum

Abstract

The intended purpose of this thesis is to bring attention to the importance of Māori historical narratives within the Museum. To understand and to take into consideration how the ‘what happened’ ‘back then’ really informs the ‘who we are now.’ In addition, this thesis will study the types of historical narratives that are currently presented in the museum. The discussion will delve into uncomfortable and confronting histories and show how these challenge the New Zealand master narrative. The focus is to argue that through confronting difficult histories we can bridge the gaps in historical awareness and understand that there are multiple ways in which to understand the past. This study is primarily concerned with the narrative form. The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter offers the groundwork and delves into historical methodologies. It will cover three main themes, the historical orthodoxy, the role of memory and constructing identities. The second is an historical overview of exhibiting Māori culture, this chapter will address collecting, display culture, biculturality and community involvement. The third chapter will look at the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the primary focus will be on two current exhibits, the New Zealand Wars Gallery and the newly established Treaty of Waitangi exhibition. The fourth chapter looks internationally at how other cultural institutions have addressed historical narratives, especially those concerned with colonised indigenous societies. It is important to consider, what is history. Apart from a bunch of (apparent) facts placed into a sequence in order to explain what happened. Histories from ‘over there’ and ‘back then,’ allow modern society a place to contemplate and decipher how we got here. History happens to all of us, it cannot be escaped, it can at times unfortunately be forgotten or rewritten but it is always there. We as humans are constantly moving forward and as we pass through those moments of transition and change, we need to remember or be reminded about what went before. Therefore, Museums are important, but it is also the reason why they are dangerous, until the silences are addressed these spaces will remain in constant disquiet.