Arapata Hakiwai

Arapata Hakiwai investigated the relationship between Māori tribal identity and development, and the role that taonga play within this.

Arapata has tribal affiliations to Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou. Arapata has worked with collections, exhibition development, governance, professional development and senior management in a long career as a museum professional. Arapata is the Kaihautū, at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He was previously the Head, Mātauranga Māori at Te Papa and he has undertaken many research projects over the last 15 years. Arapata helped lead the restoration of the Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare carved meeting house ' Ruatepupuke ' in the Field Museum , Chicago, in the early 1990's and is currently the principal investigator of a research project that investigates the creation of a digital database of Māori and Moriori taonga held in overseas museums. Arapata is currently completing his PhD dissertation that investigates the relationship between Māori tribal identity and development and the role that taonga play within this.

The title of Arapata's PhD is: 'He mana taonga, he mana tangata: Māori taonga and the politics of Māori tribal identity and development'.