Te Papa

Don't know what I was thinking of - or not thinking of - when I blogged yesterday! I meant to put in some pictures I took in Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. It is a fantastic museum with lots of interactive stuff, covering all aspects of NZ's geography, geology, history, and culture. Of course there's a large collection of Maori artifacts, etc, including a superb stylised Marae or meeting house, by Cliff Whiting.

This next one shows an explanation of who the characters are, and just what it all means. (Photo of a board in Te Papa itself)

You'll need to click on this one to enlarge it enough to read.

What I can tell you is that right at the top of the apex is Maui, with his brothers on either side of him, slowing the sun down to make the day last longer! Maui is the one who pulled North Island out of the sea.

Detail of the Ancestral Panels





















The gateway with the Triptych behind it.







I think this is such a stunning building, made of "custom wood" as Whiting describes it. I couldn't miss it out, so I hope you enjoyed it too.

Talk again soon.