Audio on demand

Pacific scholars Deveni Temu, Prue Ahrens and Sioana Faupula explore the personal and historical accounts of lives lived with the sea, from early Indigenous populations and European venturers to contemporary travellers.

Contemporary perspectives on Pacific Islander voyaging, investigating archaeological evidence and museum displays from Pacific scholars Kylie Moloney, Melanie Van Olffen and Matthew Spriggs.

The history of trade, shipping, tourism and migration between the Pacific islands and Australia is explored by historian Jonathan Ritchie as part of Voyages of the Pacific Ancestors: Vaka Moana exhibition.

Siosiua FP Tofua’ipangai, also know as Lafitani, examines significant Tongan cultural practices, discussing the techniques of tattoos, lashing, house and canoe building over time.

Leading writers and historians discuss their recent books on Captain James Cook and explore Australia’s continuing fascination with the explorer.

The presence of objects from Tahiti in museums across the world is examined by historian Jenny Newell. She discusses the representations of Tahiti over the years and suggests how museums might renew Tahitian exhibitions and collections.

The historical significance of the Cook-Forster ethnographic collection of the University of Göttingen in Germany is examined by historian Paul Turnbull.

Historian Lissant Bolton considers the nature of Captain James Cook’s fame in a museological context and discusses how difficult it is to present artefacts from the Pacific in an exhibition without reference to Cook’s three voyages.

Historian Greg Dening examines the cultural achievements of the Sea of Islands or Pacific peoples with a particular focus on Tupaia, a priest of Oro, who joined Captain James Cook on the Endeavour.

Curator Nigel Erskine discusses the official account of Captain James Cook’s third Pacific voyage, particularly the introductory essay by German naturalist and fellow voyager Georg Forster.