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Brent Kerehona Pukepuke-Ahitapu

@meanderingmaori

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EDUCATOR | AUTHOR | CULTURAL PRACTITIONER | TRAVELER

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Yeah, so overrated 🤣 by @meanderingmaori

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a month ago

Our Te Whakatōhea iwi is proud to announce our Uhengaparaoa Taonga Tuku Iho: Ancestral Gifts and Contemporary Māori Art exhibition will open to the public on 11 October at UCLA. Congratulations to the artists, curators and exhibition team for enabling this wonderful initiative to come to fruition. If you are in Los Angeles anytime from October come on through and enjoy the exhibition. by @meanderingmaori

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a month ago

A cloak fit for a King, no, a Queen

I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity to have just examined the korowai that was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1863 by a delegation of Māori Rangatira (chiefs), who met Her Majesty during their time in England.

In January 2024, I had the opportunity to visit Osborne House (Queen Victoria’s Summer Palace) on the Isle of Wight, where I examined the kaitaka that was gifted to the Queen at the same time as this korowai, and I had been patiently waiting for this opportunity to access and examine this korowai.

After arrangements were made by Owen Taituha, the curator of Te Kōngahu Museum, my opportunity eventuated this week and the physical examination undertaken. I will now complete an Historical and Technical Report based on the delegation’s meeting with the Queen and the pair of kākahu, being the kaitaka and the korowai. This will be provided to the Royal Collections Trust, Te Kōngahu Museum, and the Ngāpuhi community.

Thank you to cultural practitioners Makareta Jahnke and Alicia Courtney, who joined me, for their expert insights and commentary, which genuinely enriched the experience.

I’d like to acknowledge His Majesty King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II for their support in providing access not only to these two taonga, but also to their personal library at the Royal Archives, Windsor Castle. I’d also like to acknowledge Caroline de Guitaut, Deputy Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art, Royal Collections Trust, as well as Christopher Warleigh-Lack, Curator of Collections & Interiors – Osborne House & Isle of Wight, Dr’s Oliver Walton and Julie Cocker - Senior Archivists, Royal Archives, Owen Taituha - Curator, Te Kōngahu Museum, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and Vickie Eggs - Guide, Osborne House.

Access my Publications page for all my research projects: https://www.purakauproductions.com/blank-page-2

#purakauproductions #NgaPuhi #royalcollectiontrust by @meanderingmaori

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3 months ago

As I make plans to return to the US later this year for an art exhibition that I am collaborating on at UCLA, I was searching for any information about me researching in the USA - only to find this on Stanford University's website.

After examining this model wakataua (war canoe) and producing an Historical & Technical Report on it, I was asked to draft a script and record an audio guide.

https://www.purakauproductions.com/post/contributing-to-the-cantor

I'd like to acknowledge the Cantor Arts Center (Stanford University) and their staff for their assistance with this research project. See less taken in Stanford University by @meanderingmaori

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5 months ago

Always humbled to have the opportunity to acknowledge and honour our service men and women each Anzac Day.

Thank you to photographer Alexander Clisdell at The AC Creative Studio
@AC_Imagery @AC_Socials_ for capturing the moment.

Lest We Forget… by @meanderingmaori

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5 months ago

It was again, an honour having the opportunity to recite the Ode (in Māori) at this year’s 2026 Cronulla Anzac Day Service. After having the pleasure of doing this over the past five years, until last year where I did so on the USS Midway in San Diego, it was great to be back at Cronulla and contributing to a wonderful service. I’d like to acknowledge the Cronulla RSL Sub-branch and its members for again, facilitating an amazing event. Lest We Forget…
#AnzacDay2026 by @meanderingmaori

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6 months ago

It was mesmerising watching sugar artist Zhang Xiaoding create an eagle from molten sugar syrup at the Cherry Blossom Festival at Ueno Park. He was kind enough to gift it to my wife and mentioned that he had been studying Māori artwork. Another wonderful experience and one that added to our hanami experience. taken in Ueno Park by @meanderingmaori

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6 months ago

A wonderful Korean experience in Seoul, visiting royal palaces and meeting several locals who had either studied in, or visited New Zealand in the past. #southkorea #seoul by @meanderingmaori

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6 months ago

by @meanderingmaori

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6 months ago

An amazing Mongolian experience. #mongolia by @meanderingmaori

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6 months ago

Excited to share my most recent research project, an audio guide on the Bloomberg Connects App, and an historical & technical report for the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.

https://guides.bloombergconnects.org/en-US/guide/cantorArtsCenter/item/9be91fd4-5473-4c0c-9cd0-5992d9bb2b0f

https://www.purakauproductions.com/_files/ugd/1f96fb_de11e69050f1496a9f18c67977b23af2.pdf by @meanderingmaori

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a year ago

An amazing weekend in Melbourne with family and taking one of my granddaughters, Ruby, to watch Alissa Pili (first Polynesian to play in the WNBA) for the Geelong Venom in the WNBL during her off season. She is Samoan and Inuapiq (Native Alaskan) from Anchorage.

In 2024 she was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx, and I was fortunate to be able to watch her play against the Sparks when I was in Los Angeles. She was then picked up by the Los Angeles Sparks this season.

Ruby, who plays basketball, was lucky enough to meet Alissa and gift her a heru parāoa (carved bone haircomb) and I ordered Ruby a Geelong Venom jersey - now she has a team to support.

Unfortunately, Alissa has just sustained an ankle injury and is out for a few weeks , so we are sending our best wishes for a quick recovery.
#WNBA #geelongvenom #alissapili by @meanderingmaori

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a year ago