“We draw on Tāufa‘āhau’s words to highlight the urgency and immediacy of the need for this book, which is to fill the knowledge gaps around ‘what art is?’ and ‘what art does?’ from Tongan views. The realities of a status quo of ignorance feeding into a perpetual cycle of misinterpretation and inaccurate information, based on colonised knowledge of what Tongan art is, initiated the idea for this book in 2012. The only ways to combat ignorance is to shift the problematic axis of seeing Tongan art from a condition of imposition and domination of European / Westenr views, to a state of mediation and liberation through Tongan views. This can only be done when Tongan views of Tongan arts are firstly known, then understodd, then followed by being embedded into the status quo. We echo the sentiments of Tāufa‘āhau’s words, “you see the way it’s done, you see that this is how”, by offering the fuo forms and uho contents of this book as an example of “how” we can move from clonised knowledge to decolonised knowledge.”

Last week Friday 22 August 2025, our Lagi-Maama and Kula-‘Uli Publishing (NZ) teams hosted a gathering at Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku to launch Sio FakaTonga ‘ae ‘Aati FakaTonga, Tongan Views of Tongan Arts: Faiva, Tufunga & Nimamea’a FakaTonga: Tongan Performance Arts, Material Arts & Fine Arts.

Please contact barbara@lagi-maama.com if you are interested in purchasing a publication.

we launched the inaugural publication from Te Rabakau Press: Tibuta - Kinaakiia Ainen Kiribati |Tibuta - Identifies Kiribati Women. This groundbreaking publication celebrates the cultural significance of tibuta, Kiribati's national tops worn by women. Authored by I-Kiribati for I-Kiribati, it accompanies the exhibition of the same name at Pātaka Art + Museum. The publication features tibuta and stories from different Kiribati groups, individuals, and makers across locations like Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Pārāwai Thames, Waikato, Whiritoa, Te Puke, Tauranga, Porirua, and Kiribati.

Publication is available for sale through Lagi-Maama

Taimwanuokai: Forget Me Not exhibition highlights over a century of Kiribati knowledge, skills and artistry by master makers Kaetaeta Watson and Louisa Humphry MNZM. They chose the name Taimwanuokai because “It speaks to the things that we’ve done and what we’re capable of doing. Where our treasures in this exhibition are saying – don’t forget us, don’t forget our knowledge and practice of making and doing, carry on. It also relates to us as a people and

carries messages of – don’t forget who you are, and don’t forget where you come from.”

Kaetaeta and Louisa (together with their life partners and creative collaborators John and Jack) have been instrumental in preserving Kiribati heritage and culture in Aotearoa for over 50 years. They were part of the first Kiribati Independence flag raising in Aotearoa, held at Nikinam and John Fleetwood’s Pakuranga home in July 1981; involved in establishing the Kiribati National Council; and founding members of Ueen Kiribati Group where they still gather annually to share their Kiribati knowledge, practices and language to the next generation. “These are talents gifted by our ancestors and it is our responsility to ensure they continue to thrive.”

This exhibition is a celebration of Kiribati cultural pride through sharing, connections, collaborations and cultural exchange with makers within and across Aotearoa and beyond, while never forgetting who they are and where they come from.

Publication is available for sale - please contact barbara@lagi-maama.com

Noken / Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papua publication is now available.

https://www.facebook.com/ArtsUoA/photos/the-exhibition-noken-men-string-bags-of-the-muyu-tribe-of-southern-west-papua-co/1189676763193507/?_rdr

Please contact barbara@lagi-maama.com for further information

Lagi-Maama overview paper

Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai and Tavakefai‘ana, Sēmisi Fetokai Kulīha‘apai Moahehengiovava‘ulahi Potauaine share the profound meaning of smell in Tongan culture.

Keir Winesmith and Suse Anderson.

Honoured to have shared time, spare and talanoa with the amazing LaToya Devezin in Conversation #2.

https://www.routledge.com/The-Digital-Future-of-Museums-Conversations-and-Provocations/Winesmith-Anderson/p/book/9781138589544

Museum Worlds Berghahn.

Views from Niue and Kiribati.

Author: Lagi-Maama and Jackie Leota-Mua.

Editors:
Alison K. Brown, University of Aberdeen
Conal McCarthy, Victoria University of Wellington

Ngarino Ellis, Eliza Macdonald & Eleanor Almeida

To cite this article: Ngarino Ellis, Eliza Macdonald & Eleanor Almeida (2022): Taonga in a digital

world: Maori adornment and the possibilities of reconnection, Journal of the Royal Society of New

Zealand, DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2090967

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2022.2090967

It’s In Our Bloodlines As Moana Oceania Peoples

Interview / talanoa with Huni Mancini