(Picture caption: Rachel Yates with an evening gown by Priscilla Ale/Evana Couture, 2016. Gift of Parris Goebel, 2017. Te Papa FE013394. Photo credit: Mark Tantrum Photography, July 2019. Te Papa 145178.)
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) has appointed Rachel Yates as its first Pou Hītori Moananui-a-Kiwa Senior Pacific Historian.
Hailing from Vaisala, Savaii, Rachel joins MCH to ensure the histories of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand are documented and preserved for future generations.
Tumu Whakarae Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae says he and his team are thrilled to welcome Rachel to the Manatū Taonga whare.
"One of the key focusses of this role will be working with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and the Pasifika community to create a comprehensive historical record of the Dawn Raids period, a project which was announced as part of the Government’s Dawn Raids apology in 2021,” Laulu explains.
"This project represents an additional gesture of reconciliation and recognises the vital role of preserving and sharing histories in the healing process for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.
"Rachel brings a wealth of experience as a Pacific historian to this significant project, and we are excited to help her shape this new role.”
Rachel comes to Manatū Taonga from Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, where she worked as a Pacific Cultures and Histories Curator specialising in projects with Pacific communities within New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.
Some of her projects include co-collecting climate change stories in Tokelau, a local community tapa cloth exhibition, and Making Histories: Communities and Covid-19.
Rachel’s doctoral research in Pacific Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington is a qualitative project that explores gendered skilled migration in the 21st century and the experiences of Pacific women teaching English in South Korea.
In accepting this role, Rachel says she accepts the collective commitment to advocate for, resource, and preserve Pasifika histories.
“I am humbled by the opportunity and look forward to working closely with Manatū Taonga staff, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, institutional partners, and most importantly our Pasifika communities in creating a robust resource to record Pasifika histories.
"The Dawn Raids project offers a valuable opportunity to acknowledge and honour the strength and resilience of our parents and grandparents who created new homes and communities, despite the discrimination and hardship they faced.
“As a child of the migration - thank you for your endurance and your sacrifice."
Teu le Va - Dawn Raids History Community Fund
Round two of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Teu le Va - Dawn Raids History Community Fund is closing soon, on March 10.
If you or your community want to tell your experiences of the Dawn Raids, please explore how this fund could support you. Visit HERE for more information and to apply.