Reconnecting with Māori taonga through heritage science aided research and transnational exchange 

Project summary

This project will apply advanced 3D spectral imaging, laser scanning and materials analysis to a significant collection of Māori cultural objects (taonga) held by the Great North Museum: Hancock. Focusing on a rare group of nineteenth-century carved architectural elements and associated archival material, the research will investigate their construction, material composition and provenance, supporting the digital reconstruction of a Māori storehouse (pātaka) and revealing details that are not visible to the naked eye.

The project will generate new knowledge about the history and significance of these taonga while developing approaches for the digital documentation and interpretation of Indigenous cultural heritage. By combining heritage science with collaborative research involving museum professionals, academics and Māori partners in New Zealand, the project will enhance collections management, support intercultural knowledge exchange, improve public engagement, and establish new methods for the care and interpretation of museum collections of uncertain provenance.