A kūmara rests in the soft skin of Papatūānuku, mirroring a pēpi in the whare tangata. In warmth and darkness, they are both sprouting roots, leaves and limbs. As we grow, we expand with our surroundings, moving through the pūwaha into new light.

This exhibition is conceived by Madison Kelly (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe), Mya Morrison Middleton (Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāi Tahu), Aroha Novak (Ngāi te Rangi, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) and Piupiu Maya Turei (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi). Together they are cultivating a portal into the storehouse of Mātauraka Māori. Through pūrakau, waiata and toi, they explore how they can add their own branches to the rākau whai hua.

The curators wish to acknowledge Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnaka o Moeraki, and thank Paemanu Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery for their support.

This exhibition is made possible by the DPAG Curatorial Internship, currently held by Piupiu Maya Turei and funded by Creative New Zealand.