Pacific Photographers Shine at National Maritime Museum in London UK
“This is for our people, by our people. That’s something that’s been missing in museums for far too long”
A new digital display at the National Maritime Museum is placing contemporary Pasifika voices at the centre of one of the world’s most visited cultural institutions. Launched on 1st May 2026 in the museum’s 'Pacific Encounters' gallery, 'Pasifika Now' showcases powerful photography by young artists from across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa and its global diaspora.
At its heart, the exhibition is about visibility, ownership, and perspective. It brings together island landscapes, intimate portraits, moments of celebration, and everyday life, offering a lived and self-determined view of Pacific identity in the present day.
A Pacific lens on contemporary life
Rather than framing the Pacific through historical or colonial collections, Pasifika Now centres the voices of those who live it. The photographs connect past and present, highlighting how history continues to shape Pacific communities while also celebrating resilience, creativity, and cultural strength.
The work directly challenges long-standing stereotypes that have often defined Pacific peoples in European museum spaces. Instead, it presents an honest, grounded perspective of Tangata Moana life, shaped by community, movement, and belonging.
Curated by Pasifika voices
The exhibition is co-curated by Hanalee Vaike, who worked closely with the photographers to shape the display.
She describes the purpose of the work clearly:
“This is for our people, by our people. That’s something that’s been missing in museums for far too long”
Vaike is also part of the Tangata Moana Advisory Board, which has worked alongside the National Maritime Museum since the opening of Pacific Encounters in 2018. The board advises on exhibitions, publications, and the respectful presentation of culturally significant taonga, ensuring Pacific perspectives are not only included but centred.
The photographers behind Pasifika Now
The exhibition features emerging and established creatives whose work spans Aotearoa New Zealand, Samoa, Niue, Kiribati, Rūātoki, South Auckland, and London. Each brings a distinct perspective shaped by place, movement, and heritage.
Among them is Hele Christopher-Ikimotu, whose work draws on community and cultural memory, sustaining visibility for Banaban identity through storytelling and image-making.
Lidwina Seioriana Tutuvanu captures the strength and vibrancy of Samoan community life, including celebratory moments that reflect collective pride and connection.
From Rūātoki, Te Rangimoaho Iti brings a grounded visual language shaped by te ao Māori, focusing on environment, presence, and the impact of human change on the natural world.
Geoffrey Matautia documents everyday life across South Auckland and Samoa, reflecting the layered realities of identity between homeland and diaspora.
Navarone Toalepai captures the evolving cultural landscape of South Auckland, showing how Samoan identity continues to thrive and transform across generations and geographies.
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Thumbnail photoghraphs by Geoffrey Matautia