Tanja Schubert-McArthur - Biculturalism at New Zealand’s National Museum: An Ethnography of Te Papa

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has been celebrated as an international leader for its bicultural concept and partnership with Mori in all aspects of the museum, but how does this relationship with the indigenous partner work in practice? Biculturalism at New Zealands National Museum reveals the challenges, benefits and politics of implementing a bicultural framework in everyday museum practice. Providing an analysis of the voices of museum employees, the book reflects their multifaceted understandings of biculturalism and collaboration.

Based on a year of intensive fieldwork behind the scenes at New Zealands national museum and drawing on 68 interviews and participant observations with 18 different teams across the organisation, this book examines the interactions and cultural clashes between Mori and non-Mori museum professionals in their day-to-day work. Documenting and analysing contemporary museum practices, this account explores how biculturalism is enacted, negotiated, practised and envisioned on different stages within the complex social institution that is the museum. Lessons learnt from Te Papa will be valuable for other museums, NGOs, the public service and organisations facing similar issues around the world.

Biculturalism at New Zealands National Museum addresses a gap in the literature on biculturalism and reaffirms the importance of ethnography to the anthropological enterprise and museum studies research. As such, it will be essential reading for academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of cultural anthropology, museum anthropology, museum studies and Mori studies or indigenous studies. It should also be of great interest to museum professionals.

Tanja Schubert-McArthur holds a Masters degree from Eberhard-Karls-Universitt Tbingen in Germany and completed her PhD in Cultural Anthropology at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. She has been working as a Research Assistant, Tourguide and Events Supervisor at Te Papa for several years. She has also been a Research Analyst and Inquiry Facilitator at the Waitangi Tribunal.

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www.routledge.com/Routledge-Research-in-Museum-Studies/book-series/RRIMS

First published 2019

by Routledge

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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2019 Tanja Schubert-McArthur

The right of Tanja Schubert-McArthur to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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ISBN: 978-0-8153-5908-1 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-351-12139-2 (ebk)

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For my son

Maximilian James Tmanako

and my daughter

Soa Marika Puwai