Dame Anne Salmond hosts landmark series

In a North & South interview about the series, Dame Anne describes the artefacts as “portals to the past”. “Our artefacts are not just dull and dusty carvings around walls, they are our ancestors and the series gives people the chance to share experiences that are absolutely from the heart.”

A distinct theme and a 'hero' artefact feature at the start and end of each episode, some of which are in world famous collections, others in small local museums or cared for by whānau. Dame Anne uses the objects to tell stories of New Zealand’s culture, looking at how these stories and connections have shaped us.

She and the crew from Auckland production company Greenstone TV travelled to New York, London and Europe during filming, with local support from a number of University staff in research or onscreen capacities: lead researcher Dr Billie Lythberg; Professor Deidre Brown; Associate Professor Manuka Henare; Senior Research Fellow Professor Dilys Johns; Dr Saeid Baroutian; Dr Kiri Dell; Philomena Pai and Te Awatea Rangiuia. Scenes were filmed at Grafton Campus, Waipapa Marae, Tu Tahi Tonu Marae at Epsom Campus.

“Artefact serves to shine a light on our past, and also our future using the featured taonga as a conduit for our stories and shared history," says a spokesperson for the series. "This culturally significant series would not have come to fruition without extensive collaboration between Greenstone TV, the University of Auckland and the caretakers of taonga that lie scattered across home and abroad. Māori Television is extremely proud to bring such an important series to local screens, for New Zealanders to enjoy.”

Funded by NZ on Air, the six one-hour programmes screen on Māori Television at 8.30pm from Monday 7 May to Monday 11 June. They will also be available on demand on Māori Television.

A launch event for the series was held at Te Papa Tongarewa on Wednesday 2 May from 5.30pm with guests including those who worked on the series in front of and behind the camera along with Members of Parliament, funders, media and other key stakeholders.