Te Whakatōhea Iwi Opens Exhibition at Fowler Museum

The Los Angeles museum exhibition showcases the historic Uhengaparaoa cloak.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Historical

Te Whakatōhea Iwi Opens Exhibition at Fowler Museum

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Should museums prioritize returning cultural artifacts to the tribes that originated them?

Te Whakatōhea iwi has opened the Uhengaparaoa, Taonga Tuku Iho exhibition at the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles. The display features the historic Uhengaparaoa cloak and aims to restore the relationship between the iwi and the taonga.

Why it matters

This exhibition represents a significant effort to reconnect the iwi with their ancestral treasures held in international collections. It facilitates cultural exchange and research between the iwi and local institutions in Los Angeles.

The Uhengaparaoa cloak is crafted from flax fibre and features tāniko geometric designs. The current exhibition is scheduled to run for a total duration of 6 months.

The players

Te Whakatōhea iwi

An indigenous Māori iwi from the Bay of Plenty region who led the research and exhibition efforts.

Fowler Museum

A museum at UCLA in Los Angeles that focuses on global arts and cultures.

Tangimoe Clay

An artist who contributed a handwoven poi tāniko to the museum as part of the exhibition.

The details

The exhibition process involved a dedicated iwi research team traveling to the United States to engage directly with the museum collection. During the opening, artist Tangimoe Clay gifted a handwoven poi tāniko to the museum as part of the cultural exchange.

The exhibition at the Fowler Museum is scheduled to close on 16 May 2027.

Culture Shift

This exhibition reflects a growing global movement toward the repatriation and re-engagement of indigenous groups with ancestral artifacts held in international collections. It signals a move away from static museum displays toward active relationship-building between museums and source communities.

Local visitors to the Fowler Museum can view the rare Uhengaparaoa cloak and learn about the cultural history of the Te Whakatōhea iwi. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to understand the efforts behind the preservation and restoration of indigenous taonga.

The takeaway

Reconnecting with cultural history often requires direct engagement between communities and the institutions holding their ancestral items. This collaboration highlights the importance of preserving traditional artistic techniques and maintaining ancestral relationships.