Thanks to the coordination of Consulate General of New Zealand in Shanghai and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, the New Zealand Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo has decided to present “Te Kākano”, a huge Māori carving currently displayed in the Expo Park, to the Museum of Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Arts (Baoshan Museum) for collection.

On the afternoon of June 28, Mark Frood, Regional Manager, North Asia, Tourism New Zealand, and his entourage came to Baoshan and signed the agreement on gifting with the official of the District Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV. Both parties also compared notes on the specific issues such as transportation and installation of “Te Kākano”.

The 10-meter-tall “Te Kākano”, with the diameter of 3 meters and the weight of 3.7 tons, was created by the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute--Te Puia. It, sea-freighted from New Zealand to China in late February 2010, was completed on site at the Expo Park by carvers. After the New Zealand’s National Pavilion Day, “Te Kākano” will settle in Baoshan. Dr Pita Sharples, New Zealand Minister of Maori Affairs, will visit Baoshan Museum for a blessing ceremony of “Te Kākano” on September 10.

The locals will be able to see “Te Kākano” in the eastern area of Baoshan Museum’s plaza after the opening of the museum.

Photo (Peng Lin, Director of Baoshan District Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, and Mark Frood, Regional Manager, North Asia, Tourism New Zealand, are signing the memorandum.)