This richly illustrated book presents a comprehensive assessment of the display of Maori culture from the 19th Century to today. In doing so, Exhibiting Maori: A History of Colonial Cultures of Display traces the long journey from curio to specimen, artefact, art and taonga (treasure). Drawing on extensive and groundbreaking research, Exhibiting Maori reveals for the first time the remarkable story of Maori resistance to, involvement in, and eventual capture of the display of their culture. Ranging across museums, world fairs, fine art, and tourism, Exhibiting Maori: A History of Colonial Cultures of Display fuses museum studies, anthropology, and visual and material culture to uncover a history of active Maori engagement with the colonial culture of display.

Author Biography

Dr Conal McCarthy was appointed Director of the Museum and Heritage Studies programme at Victoria University in early 2005. His research includes NZ art and architecture, museum history and theory, visitor research, and heritage issues. His first book, a study of colonial architecture in North Otago, was published in 2002 by the Historic Places Trust. He has presented papers at several international conferences and written articles for: Art New Zealand, Sites, The Journal of Australian Art Education, New Zealand Sociology, The Journal of New Zealand Literature, and Museum Management and Curatorship.