Mrs Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to cultures and the arts
Mrs Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to cultures and the arts.
Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai works for Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy, an educational and cultural organisation she co-founded. Her knowledge of Tongan culture and background in art history, anthropology, museum and heritage studies has inspired her cultural and arts advocacy, curatorial practice and writings. She has co-curated exhibitions at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, UK. She values a cross-cultural approach and the importance of looking critically at imposed western worldviews on Moana Oceania cultures and arts. Mrs Māhina-Tuai has been a guest curator and consultant for the Visible Voices Research Project at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.