The “Toitū te Māori: New Zealand Māori Historical Justice on Screen” exhibition kicked off Sept. 24 at the National Human Rights Museum in New Taipei City as the two partner countries continue to promote equality, justice and human rights protection for all.
According to the NHRM, the event was jointly organized with the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office Taipei. Those attending the opening ceremony included Deputy Minister of Culture Lee Ching-hwi, Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang, NZCIO Director Mark Pearson and Deputy Director Renee Bates, as well as Taiwan lawmakers and officials and private sector representatives from both sides.
During her opening remarks, Lee said promoting historical and transitional justice for Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples is a government policy priority. Through the images on display and screening of feature films and documentaries, the exhibition spotlights the historical predicament of the Māori and how they strived against adversity to defend their treasured dignity and justice.
It is hoped that the Māori experience can inspire Taiwan society to reflect on itself and serve as a reference when it comes to promoting transitional justice for the country’s Indigenous inhabitants, she added.
Pearson said the Indigenous peoples of Taiwan and his country share similar experiences in searching for their historical identity. Holding this exhibition at the NHRM, which is located inside the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, is a reminder of the hardship and suffering experienced by all those who fought for human rights, he added.
According to the NHRM, the exhibition is underway till March 23, 2025, and also features five film screenings and four post-screening discussions. It begins with the history of the Māori in New Zealand, and focuses on the trade, cooperation and confrontation between those in the Aotearoa region and European settlers since the 18th century, as well as their search for truth that reflects their tribal values. (SFC-E)
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