New publication celebrates Muyu culture through Noken string bags

The exhibition Noken / Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papua concluded with the launch of its accompanying publication at the University of Auckland Library on 4 August.

It marks the first publication from Lagi-Maama and honours the intricate artistry and cultural significance of noken - traditional string bags woven by Muyu men - based on the research of University of Auckland PhD candidate Veronika Triariyani Kanem.

The publication follows the closing of the successful exhibition held at Te Tumu Herenga, University of Auckland Library, which ran from March to July 2025. Co-curated by Kanem and Lagi-Maama, the exhibition showcased the noken as more than craft – a vessel of identity, ceremony and ecological connection.

“Thank you everyone so much for your love and support for this journey,” Kanem told those gathered including the West Papuan community that had travelled from Palmerston North and Hamilton especially for the book launch.

“This is not just my PhD thesis,” says Kanem. “It is my community’s work - especially the women. I am proud to introduce this knowledge and reciprocate what they have given me. The noken connects us to our land, our forest and our relationships. It is not a souvenir - it is a story of survival and belonging.”

The book expands on the themes of weaving together oral histories, ethnographic insights and visual documentation. It also highlights the environmental threats facing noken-making traditions, including deforestation projects in South Papua Province, that threaten noken weaving, with its materials sourced from the forest.

The Indonesian government's proposed deforestation project poses a "threat" to Kanem’s community with plans to establish two million hectares of sugarcane plantations in the Merauke district in the southern area of Papua.

Kanem presented the book to Co-Head of Māori and Pacific Studies Associate Professor Gordon Nanau, who welcomed everyone gathered for the launch of the new publication, including Kanem's doctoral supervisors, Professor Yvonne Underhill-Sem and Dr Mark Busse. He noted the exhibition had attracted a steady stream of visitors including numerous students and lecturers

“I personally raise my heart to the organisers, especially the Lagi Maama team, the University library staff, Veronika and many others at work behind the scenes.

“You will agree with me, this has been an extraordinary PhD journey for Veronika.”

Author and curator Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai from Lagi Maama says she was proud to announce the launch of their very first book. Profits from Noken / Men will go back to the communities in West Papua who have shared their stories in Lagi Maama’s debut publication.

Noken / Men is proudly supported by Creative New Zealand, Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Council, J R McKenzie Trust, Fay Nanai and the team at Herenga Mātauranga Whānui General Library at the University of Auckland.

Nanai says the publication is a milestone for Indigenous-led scholarship and a celebration of Pacific research excellence. It affirms the importance of cultural preservation, community collaboration and the power of storytelling through Indigenous lenses.