Tapunga Nepe

Biography

Ko Puketapu te maunga      Puketapu is my mountain
Ko Te Ārai te awa      Te Ārai is my river
Ko Horouta me Takitimu ngā waka      Horouta and Takitimu are my ancestral canoes
Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi      Rongowhakaata is my tribe

“He whare tū ki te wā he kai nā te ahi;
He whare maihi i tū ki te pā-tūwatawata, he tohu nō te rangatira”
(A carved house standing inside a palisaded pā is the mark of a chief;
one standing in the open is food for a fire)

This renowned proverb within Tapunga’s tribe in Tūranganui a Kiwa (Gisborne), Aotearoa New Zealand, holds multiple interpretations that are relevant in the context of museums today. Firstly, it signifies the role of museums in stewardship, preserving both the physical and cultural integrity of all artifacts and taonga—embraced by the fortitude of the very communities from which they originate. Secondly, it speaks to the role of leadership, manifested through the collective strengths and concerted efforts of the museum’s communities, stakeholders, governance, management, and staff. Thirdly, it reflects the idea of continuity, where the present is anchored in the past, providing a scope for the journey ahead, as a source of enculturation, adaptation, and innovation.

Tapunga’s admiration and passion for his indigenous heritage drives him to develop and enhance his understanding of all things Maori, in particular Te Reo Māori (the Māori language), Tikanga Māori (Māori customs) and Taonga Māori (Māori treasures). Deeply rooted in the values nurtured by his elders—the foundation of his intellectual growth and understanding. Tapunga firmly believes that a memory that does not aspire to remain relevant risks fading away, and that knowledge must remain in a state of flux to effect transformative change across all aspects of life.

With a background in education, he firmly believes that education is an essential tool in developing the capacity and capabilities of indigenous people, with the hope that one day, Māori or any other indigenous people can manage and care for their traditional taonga and truly fulfil the role of kaitiekitanga (guardianship), as an expression of identity and rangatiratanga (self-determination).

Tapunga is currently the Director of Tairāwhiti Museum. Prior to this role, he completed a Master’s in Museum Studies. His thesis, He whare maihi i tū ki te pā-tūwatawata: Kaitiekitanga, an eternal thread of rangatiratanga — a Rongowhakaata perspective, explores kaitiekitanga in relation to taonga Māori held in museums as a means of maintaining identity and strengthening whānau, hapū, and iwi self-determination.

A significant component of Tapunga’s research was supported by the He Whai Mātauranga Scholarship, established by the British High Commission to enable Māori scholars to study taonga held in UK institutions. This experience, including visits to the British Museum, the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Royal Cornwall Museum, demonstrated the power of cross-cultural exchange in building understanding and trust.

Previously, when he came on the ITP, Tapunga was responsible for the care and access of the taonga Maori collection held at Tairawhiti Museum. He supported and assisted with the management of the taonga Maori Collection, acted as the Tikanga Maori (indigenous customs) advisor and responded to any inquiries related to the taonga Maori collection. Tapunga also developed, maintained, researched and delivered exhibitions on the collection. He liaised with artists, lenders, other museums and iwi regarding taonga Maori. Tapunga built and maintained relationships with iwi, Maori and Non-Maori organisations and maintained regular contact with local iwi, marae and other communities.

At the British Museum
During his time on the International Training Programme 2017, Tapunga was based in the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas and spent his partner placement at Manchester Museum and Manchester Art Gallery.

In 2017 participants were asked to develop a proposal for an Asahi Shimbun Display – a temporary exhibition in Room 3 at the British Museum – based around a ‘spotlight’ object.  Tapunga worked with fellow Mona Melling (Documentation and Content Development Officer, Sarawak Museum, Malaysia) on his exhibition proposal project, entitled Transporting Identities: Exploring Iban and Māori Carved Vessels.

Since ITP 2017, Tapunga has continued his international engagement. He is part of the British Museum Masterplan International Working Group (IWG) which has invited international museum and cultural heritage experts to collaborate with the Museum and support the development of new suites of permanent galleries at the Museum through online meetings and workshops in London. The IWG has provided a valuable forum for diverse perspectives to inform and contribute to future developments.

Legacy Projects

In April 2026, Tapunga participated in the ITP+ global engagement and cultural diplomacy, and attended the ICOM UK Conference in Oxford, Museum Diplomacy in Action.