Hinemihi’s Proposed Return to Aotearoa

British Council New Zealand and the Pacific is proud to support National Trust curator Rachael Chambers’ visit to Aotearoa this November. During her time here, Rachael will take part in a talk at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on the extraordinary story of Hinemihi, a Ngāti Hinemihi wharenui at Clandon Park in England, and the plans for her proposed return to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Rachael will join Robert Schuster-Rika, Pouārahi Traditional Arts at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, for a conversation exploring Hinemihi’s history, cultural significance and the international collaboration working towards her proposed return home. Together, they will share new insights into Hinemihi’s history, including stories uncovered through recent archival research.  

During the visit Rachael will deliver a curated session at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies (ACHS) to be held at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington from 29th November – 2nd December 2026, and affiliated public events and meetings related to the Hinemihi project in Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington, New Zealand. 

The proposed exchange would see Hinemihi return to Aotearoa and newly made whakairo (carvings) gifted for a new wharenui at Clandon Park, continuing the site’s connection with Māori heritage. 

This project involves an international three-way cultural partnership between Ngā Kohinga Whakairo o Hinemihi, Te Maru o Hinemihi and the National Trust, with active support from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga; a living example of cross-cultural collaboration and the sharing of histories, ideas and expertise. 

This visit builds on British Council’s work with the communities connected to Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito, one of the world’s oldest surviving Māori meeting houses. In 2024, a Connections Through Culture grant funded Te Tūmahanatanga Tawhiti, a summer learning programme in London led by Te Maru o Hinemihi in partnership with Ngā Kohinga Whakairo o Hinemihi. It offered wānanga, te reo Māori classes and tukutuku panel weaving with master weavers Jim and Cathy Schuster. In 2025 Te Maru o Hinemihi were supported to lead a second wananga, held at UCL East in London, alongside their partners Ngā Kohinga Whakairo o Hinemihi, the National Trust and involving members of Ngāti Rānana. This wānanga focused on the work of the carvers and plans for Hinemihi’s next chapter.