Makereti: Taking Māori to the World
Makereti (1873-1930), better known as Maggie Papakura, was one of New Zealand's first international media celebrities. Although best known as a tourist guide at the Whakarewarewa thermal village in Rotorua, there's much more to her story.
This online exhibition explores some key moments in Makereti's life. It is based on the 2007/08 National Library Gallery exhibition 'Makereti: Taking Māori to the World'.
The National Library Gallery exhibition commemorates Makereti’s remarkable life. Based on the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, it has been curated in association with a new illustrated biography, Makereti: Taking Māori to the World, by Paul Diamond.
In 1901 Makereti was chosen to guide the Duke and Duchess of York at the Whakarewarewa thermal village.
After the 1901 royal tour images of Makereti appeared around New Zealand and throughout the world.
Makereti and her group of performers travelled from Rotorua to Melbourne, Sydney and England.
In England in 1912, Makereti married Richard Staples-Browne and began a new phase of her life.
In 1927 Makereti enrolled at the University of Oxford. Her thesis, 'The Old-Time Māori', was published in 1938.
Makereti died in England in 1930. A memorial to her was unveiled in Whakarewarewa the following year.
