At the Tairawhiti Museum.

E WHITU THESIS EXHIBITION by Tawera Tahuri.

Opening this Friday September 7, at 7:00pm
An Installation and recent works by Tawera Tahuri referencing the seventh generation principle of Nga Ariki Kaiputahi.


NUKUTERE WEAVERS: A group exhibition by the weavers of te Tairawhiti.

Over 40 works, featuring beautiful Korowai, cloaks as well as contemporary pieces, kete and some magnificent sculptural works including body forms by Alixine Curtis.
Until 7 October.


A BARBAROUS MEASURE: The Poll Tax and Chinese New Zealanders

From the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library
The first group of Chinese people arrived in New Zealand in 1866. These were miners from the goldfields of Australia, brought to Otago at the invitation of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Although they were initially welcomed, racist attitudes soon surfaced, the tide of opinion turned, and as early as 1871 there were calls for restrictions on Chinese immigration.

By 1881 anti-Chinese feeling had reached such a level that the Chinese Immigrants Act was passed. This imposed a £10 poll tax on every Chinese immigrant. In 1896 the tax was raised to £100, roughly equivalent to ten years earnings.

This exhibition presents a history of the anti-Chinese measures that were taken by the Government and is a contribution to the Government's formal apology to the Chinese people of NZ in 2002.

Until 14 October