Does Māori Art History Matter?Does Māori Art History Matter?

Although Māori art has long been acknowledged as one of the world's great art traditions, no comprehensive history of this tradition has yet been written. In this context, we propose a radical shift towards a new Māori art 'historiography' that extends the 'scope, method and vision' of standard art history practice. This address discussed how earlier assumptions about time and periodisation have shaped perceptions and misconceptions about the cultural relevance, collection and presentation of Māori art.