Te Unua Museum of Southland Museum director Eloise Wallace, Te Unua Museum of Southland team leader experience David Dudfield, Waihōpai Rūnaka kaiwhakahaere (chair) Cyril Gilroy, and Rūnaka project lead Keri Whaitiri at Murihiku Marae. Photo: Supplied/Ngāi Tahu
The director of Te Unua Museum of Southland says work has begun on how to tell the region's important stories ahead of its expected opening late next year.
Invercargill City Council and Waihōpai Rūnaka are working in partnership on the contents of the new museum.
Director Eloise Wallace told RNZ it was about more than just constructing a building.
"When it comes to museums people like to find themselves, but they also like to find something new. And we really are trying to push the boundaries for our new museum in terms of how we tell those stories so its very exciting, challenging space."
The name, Te Unua, meant a double-hulled waka, and it was important the council worked in partnership with mana whenua, she said.
Indeed, Mana whenua stories will make up an important part of the museum.
Invercargill City Council and Waihōpai Rūnaka said they were both committed to making sure indigenous and local stories were told well.
Rūnaka kaiwhakahaere Cyril Gilroy said museums had often misrepresented Māori historically and told personal stories without the involvement of mana whenua.
"It's important for people to understand it's just not Ngāi Tahu ... it's the history of our kōrero towards the people and towards the land and the mountains and the streams. All those things."
A series of wananga - discussions - would be held to decide what would go into the museum.
The historical movements of indigenous people made up a big part of the story of Murihiku, Gilroy said.
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