Moriori, Music and Manawa
Professor Connie Svabo, Head of Centre, FNUG, contributes to the project "Moriori, Music, and Manawa," which focuses on experience, media, and exhibition design
The project "Moriori, Music, and Manawa" focuses on Moriori culture in New Zealand and works interdisciplinary and practice-oriented on heritage preservation and the development of educational experiences. The project is based at the University of Otago and led by Dr. Gianna Savoie.
Dr. Gianna Savoie is an award-winning National Geographic filmmaker with two decades of experience leading large production teams. Her research crosses science, media, and cultural storytelling, emphasizing elevating indigenous voices in science narratives—research that is central to this project.
The project draws on insights from science education, cultural studies, science communication, computer science, music, archaeology, graphic design, and museum studies. Dr. Savoie collaborates with an interdisciplinary and international research team, including Professor Connie Svabo, Head of Centre for Research in Science Education and Communication (FNUG).
Connie Svabo contributes her expertise in communication and experience design, supporting research and enhancing the overall communication experience.
The project involves experimental research on Moriori musical instruments (miheke oro) as created and used by the indigenous Moriori people, using 3D replicas of the instruments and other artifacts. It will also develop virtual reality and physical museum installations.
Nancy Longnecker, a professor of science communication from the University of Otago, is also part of the research team. Nancy Longnecker has curated numerous exhibitions, and her research-based knowledge of museums as cultural institutions provides a crucial foundation for developing the immersive exhibition on Moriori, Music, and Manawa, focusing on user experience. She has experience co-creating communication resources with participants from Māori and the Pacific (Longnecker & Scott, 2016; Sole et al., 2022; Longnecker & Bryant, 2023).
Nancy Longnecker will visit SDU from April 17 to 20, 2023, where FNUG will host her.
The rest of the research team includes:
Susan Thorpe, an archaeologist, ecologist, and researcher for Hokotehi Moriori Trust (HMT), New Zealand. She coordinates project activities on Rēkohu and provides advice and feedback on all aspects of the project..
Dr. Jennifer Cattermole (University of Otago, Music), one of New Zealand's leading ethnomusicologists with a special interest in Māori and Moriori music, leads the work on replicating and testing miheke oro.
Ajay Peni (Moriori), an internationally renowned Moriori musician/composer/influencer from Rēkohu, contributes his professional music direction and composition to the project.
Professor Steven Mills (University of Otago, Computer Science) and Professor Holger Regenbrecht (University of Otago, information Science) create and evaluate virtual experiences.
Lektor Linda Antas (Montana State University), a musician and music technologist, contributes her research expertise in blending indigenous and computer music with multidisciplinary interactive installations and in researching the perceived authenticity of musical replicas.