Our Ocean of Islands is a landmark exhibition bringing together the Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices of 24 Moana Oceania island nations. This exhibition includes  Tangata Whenua and all 17 island nations with diaspora communities in Aotearoa. 

Developed in partnership and co-curated with key minds and hearts from each island nation, the exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the diverse Indigenous perspectives that continue to shape communities across Moana Oceania today.

Through ancestors, cultural traditions, stories, creative expressions and Indigenous voices, visitors can explore how generations of knowledges and practices have informed relationships with their lands, seas, and skies. These knowledge systems continue to shape cultural identity throughout the region.

The exhibition features contributions ranging from the oldest, a three thousand years old pottery from Vanuatu that traces its connection to the Indigenous peoples of Taiwan; to one of the newest commissions an ‘upeti (barkcloth pattern board) and siapo (Samoan barkcloth) to represent the Samoan seasonal calendar through the story of the palolo (marine worm delicacy); to the largest, a Mekeo, Papua New Guinea Calendar and woven sail from Lamoireg, Federated States of Micronesia; to smaller treasures of cultural significance : a pā (pearl-shell lure) and kahoa from Tokelau, and dolphin teeth currency and ornaments from Malaita, Solomon Islands.

Whether you whakapapa or have personal connections to Moana Oceania you will be discovering something new, Our Ocean of Islands offers an opportunity to explore the diverse and rich cultures, traditions and knowledge systems that shape our interconnected region.

Featuring contributions from:

Aotearoa | Indigenous Australia | Belau / Palau | Cook Islands | Fiji | Hawai‘i | Lamoireg, Federated States of Micronesia | Marshall Islands | Naoero | New Caledonia | Niue | Pitcairn | Papua New Guinea | Rotuma | Samoa | Solomon Islands | Tahiti | Taiwan | Tokelau | Tonga | Tungaru / Kiribati | Tuvalu | Vanuatu | West Papua

More details coming soon.

Noken / Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papua is an exhibition co-curated by Veronika Triariyani Kanem, a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy. The exhibition focuses on the noken, or men, of the Muyu tribe from Southern West Papua and their intricate weaving practices. It highlights Veronika's research on the socio-cultural significance of the noken/men among the Muyu people, her father's tribe.

The exhibition is on now until July 3, 2025, at the Pacific Collaborative Space - L1 Mātauranga Whānui General Library, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Proudly supported by Creative New Zealand, Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Council, J R McKenzie Trust, Fay Nanai, and the team at Herenga Mātauranga Whānui General Library at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau.

The ‘Arts’ of Moana Oceania and Lagi-Maama Tok Stori Tuesdays project started out as a scoping research to address the current knowledge gaps within and across the cultural (including arts) sector in Aotearoa New Zealand by developing a more cross-cultural approach to knowing and understanding what ‘art’ is from multiple perspectives.

We often hear about the value of ‘art’ and the importance ‘art’, but for many of our island nations, ‘art’ is not our word. Moana Oceania peoples are forced to fit our ways of knowing into a ‘general’ Western frame, that in turn isolates and ignores our ‘own specific uniqueness’.

If we are to genuinely understand and advocate for how the arts are valued by all 17+ island nations with diaspora communities in Aotearoa, we need to first know what art is from their various Indigenous world views. This means looking critically at the status quo of the cultural sector within and across Aotearoa and acknowledge that all people do ‘art’ – but it is organised, performed and created differently within and across different cultures.

Kaotan ma kabwarabwaraan Tibuta aikai e bon kamatata kakannaton ma tararaoin Te Tibuta iroura ainen Kiribati.

This exhibition honours the significance of tibuta, Kiribati’s national tops, worn by women as markers of identity and pride.

Saturday 7 October – Saturday 11 November 2023

Kaetaeta Watson and Louisa Humphry, MNZM, wear their tibuta proudly because it strongly identifies who they are as I-Kiribati in Aotearoa. Their research in 2021 revealed a lack of resources into tibuta by I-Kiribati, for I-Kiribati. There was also very little information found within museum institutions around the world. This exhibition is an attempt to fill this gap by honouring and celebrating the history of tibuta, as remembered, known and told by I-Kiribati diaspora communities from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Pārāwai Thames, Waikato, Whiritoa, Tauranga, Porirua and from their beloved homeland of Kiribati.

Each tibuta on display carries the legacy of grandmothers, mothers, daughters and granddaughters. They come with narratives around making practices, distinctive styles, gifting and wearing of tibuta for life-affirming moments such as family reunions, village gatherings and engagements. All of the stories shared in this exhibition have been lovingly authored by I-Kiribati, for I-Kiribati.

Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group Inc.

Ko e taonaga mahuiga he 30 tau he fenoga Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group Inc ne gahua i Otahuhu tali mai he tau 1993.

Ko e Tau fakaholoaga mo e tau Taoga ne matutaki e matakau Falepipi he Mafola ki ai kua manatu e tau lilifu ne molea e 50 he momole atu mo e ha lautolu a tau olatia lotomatala, tufuga lima mo e pulotu ne auloa mo lautolu ke lagaki e tau taoga mahuiga ai nei.

Mai he tau maaga ko Tuapa Uhomotu, Alofi, Namukulu, Makefu, Liku, Hikutavake, Hakupu, Avatele, Tamakautoga, Mutalau, mo Toi. Ne fakalataha tumau e matakau Falepipi he Mafola ke he Otahuhu Town Hall and Community Center i Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland he tau aho Tuloto he matahola 10 kehe matahola 2 tali mai he 1993 ke he magaaho nei. Kua matutaki ke fakamau mo e fakaholo ki mua e lotomatala he fakafetuiaga, tau gahua taoga motu mo e moui he tagata Niue he nofo i Aotearoa.

Celebrating the 30 – year journey of Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group Inc, based in Ōtāhuhu since 1993.

Manatū Taonga Ngā Kaiwhakaoho Ahurea Cultural Activators Pilot was part of Te Tahua Whakahaumaru Creative Arts Recovery and Employment (CARE) Fund. The pilot funded cultural activators in eight communities to increase access and participation in cultural activities.

Lagi-Maama were successful under Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and have been honoured to support two main projects - one being the:

Koe Pō Hiva Tu‘ufonua FakaTonga:

A Night of Tongan Classical Music

Season I took please on:

Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September 2022.

Season II:

Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th June 2023.

Both at Mangere Arts Centre - Nga Tohu o Uenuku.

Fāgogo and Fananga

In 2021 we were grateful to receive support from Creative New Zealand to complete Phase I of our Fāgogo and Fananga project where we wanted to honour and ‘breathe the sounds of life’ into the untapped knowledge of our ancestors found in fāgogo and fananga, Indigenous Samoan and Tongan forms of storytelling, collected in the 1960s and 1970s by Prof. Richard Moyle as part of his PhD research and fieldwork.

With Richard’s blessings, we requested support for this Phase I of ‘Research and Connecting’ to strengthen the foundation and navigation of our project, from our Samoan and Tongan worldviews of knowing and doing, by working closely with our own Samoan and Tongan onto-epistemologists (holders of knowledge).

We are so grateful to those that came on board for our Phase I - especially CNZ, Richard Moyle, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Professor 'Ōkusitino Māhina, Maui-TāVā-He-Akó Professor Tēvita O Kaʻili, Rita Seumanutafa and Aiono Manu Faaea,

In early 2022 Lagi-Maama was approached by Melissa Malu, Manager, Pasifika Collections & Engagement | First Nations and invited to be part of an incredible Curatorium tasked with the developing of the Curatorial Framework & Content Plan for the ‘new’ Pasifika Gallery (due to open in Oct 2023).

The journey that we have collectively travelled has been ‘divinely and ancestrally’ led and we are beyond grateful for the faith, trust and openness of Australia Museum, community and Macdoch Foundation.

In the link are images of the journey with more to come next year.

Taimwanuokai: Forget Me Not 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.”

We opened the exhibition on Saturday 19th July and closed it on Saturday 23rd August 2025.

On Saturday 23rd August at Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku we celebrated alongside Mamas Kaetaeta Watson and Louisa Humphry, their creative partners Jack and John, their families, and the wider community. Four generations gathered in the fale—a truly special moment! Together we shared laughter, tears, stories, songs, and dances one last time, surrounded by these precious treasures!

There is a publication available on sale - please contact Lagi-Maama.

Taimwanuokai will be travelling so watch this space for updates.