Cultured Conversations invites exceptional leaders to discuss the big issues facing the cultural community of Aotearoa New Zealand today.

In this episode, we welcome Taane Mete. Taane is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most renowned dancers, choreographers and yoga teachers. Taane has danced in all major dance companies in Aotearoa and has sustained his performing career for more than four decades.

Taane and his life’s work is inspired by his late parents in remembrance of the gifts and wisdom they taught him. Influenced by mātauranga Māori and the rich cultural tapestry of Aotearoa, his artistic expression is steeped in tea o Māori and his embodied spiritual practice experience as a dancer, yoga teacher and massage body worker brings together the ‘healing arts.

Cultured Conversations invites exceptional leaders to discuss the big issues facing the cultural community of Aotearoa New Zealand today.

In this episode we welcome Helen Carroll Curator of the Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art and director of the philanthropic arm of WesFarmers.

Helen has been in the business for 30 years, stewarding the Wesfarmers’ Arts sponsorship programme which provides $3 million annually to the performing and visual arts in Western Australia.

Cultured Conversations invites exceptional leaders to discuss the big issues facing the cultural community of Aotearoa New Zealand today.

In this episode we welcome curator Tina Baum. Tina is the Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery of Australia, and holds over 30 years’ experience working in museums and galleries throughout Australia.

Tina is from the Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Scottish, and German heritage. 

Cultured Conversations invites exceptional leaders to discuss the big issues facing the cultural community of Aotearoa New Zealand today.

In our first episode, we welcome Joe Pihema of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Joe is a tribal historian, Te Reo expert and senior tikanga advisor to Ngāti Whātua.

He has worked in Māori education for over 25 years and also in Māori Broadcasting and the cultural and heritage sectors. Joe was Deputy Director and Curator of Collections of the Tairāwhiti Museum from 1998 to 2004, and also a member of Te Papa National Services Bicultural Committee.

Joe is a former member of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board and Tupuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, and is a current member of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Taumata-a-Iwi.