Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy

31/08/2026

Lagi-Maama August 2026 travels & blessings 🌺

This month was predominantly focused on Our Ocean of Islands (OOOI) exhibition. A collaboration with 24 islands nations, informed & led by 26 contributors, & working in partnership with Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa New Zealand Maritime Museum.

🔹HUGELY grateful to ALL of the minds & hands carrying out their tasks to get the exhibition ready for opening.

🔹Katsio Julia & Salevasa for leading the settling of space to make way for the formalities of the opening weekend. Ngaa mihi to Hoturoa & TTVT whaanau for supporting this kaupapa.

🔹 Fa’afetai tele lava to Ngāti Whātua for leading the formalities of the Friday opening. Fakaaue lahi Ioane, hashigeshig Pairourou Larry for responding on behalf of our 24 island nations & contributors. Kam rabwa Marewen Kiribati Youth group for your phenomenal & powerful performance. ‘Ofa atu fau to all of the contributors & representatives that could make this opening.

🔹Mālō ‘aupito to the minds & hearts that shared during the Saturday opening gathering: Mali, Julia & Salevasa; Ioane; Kaetaeta, Louisa & Baitika; Larry; Brian; Nataniela & Ö’hön ta Jioje; Alamanda; Gordon, Mali & Kabini; Vaito & Kelesoma; Lisa & Peter; Veronika; & Sione, Meleseini & Akesiumeimoana.

🔹Eso Nibeka to Brian for kick starting off our Community Activation Days with Indigenous Australia; your sharing & exchange with staff, public, & students from Julia’s class.

🔹Kam Rabwa to our Kiribati contributors Kaetaeta & Louisa for the making workshop, sharing & exchange with staff & public.

🔹Hashigeshig to Pairourou Larry for sharing your Lamoireg knowledge & practice with staff & public. Meitaki ma’ata to MFAT for supporting his trip to Aotearoa.

🔹Thank you JR McKenzie Trust, Foundation North, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Council, and The Tindall Foundation, Next Gen, for continuing to enable Lagi-Maama to do us.

27/08/2026

18/08/2026

13/08/2026

In March 2025 we started the exhibition journey with “Noken / Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe in Southern West Papua” at the General Library, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

In August 2025, it travelled down the road to Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Central Library.

And last month, July 2026 the show travelled down to Ōtautahi, now showing at Central Library, Level 2 Puaka James Hight Building at Te Whare Wānanga o Waiataha, University of Canterbury, until early next month, September 2026.

Our Ocean of Islands exhibition will be the fourth destination for this important exhibition on the string bags of the Muyu people in Southern West Papua.

We acknowledge with gratitude Dr Veronika Kanem and her Muyu people of Southern West Papua; noken / men makers Agnes Orpka, Augustina Ambai, Yosevita Yopkot; contributors and supporters of the documentary - Paskalis Pigai, Katja Phutaraksa Neef, Father Janes (Johanes) Michael Wemay MSC, weavers from Waropko, Upkim, Upyetetko and Kanggewot villages, Muyu community and weavers in Merauke.

13/08/2026

Indigenous Australia Community Activation Day!

We are excited to kick start off Our Ocean of Islands exhibition community activation day with Indigenous Australia, this coming Sunday 16 August 2026 with Brian Robinson.

10:30am - spend some time and space with Brian in the exhibition space sharing on his works.

2.30pm - delve deeper into Brian’s knowledge and practice with his presentation ‘Ancient Knowledge, Contemporary Practice: The Art of Brian Robinson’.

Don’t miss out on hearing directly from Brian Robinson!

12/08/2026

Earlier in June this year Our Ocean of Islands team hosted Iarawai Longa a Ni-Vanuatu Archaeologist from Vanuatu Kaljorla Senta (VKS). He travelled to Tāmaki Makaurau to bring a treasured pot for the exhibition that holds a personal connection with local Ni-Vanuatu Lisa Murgatroyd. Tank yu Lisa and her husband Peter Murgatroyd for sharing this connection in the exhibition. 🌺

We acknowledge with gratitude the initial connection made by Hon Ralph Regenvanu with Richard Singh (Director, VKS); and the support of Dr Stuart Bedford to enable the loan process for the pot. We look forward to sharing more soon.🙌

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