21st Sentry Cyber Sister

21st Sentry Cyber Sister

The 'Pacific Sisters' are a loose collective of Pacific Island and Maori women (and men), most of mixed descent, all New Zealand born and who throughout the 1990’s were based mainly in Auckland, New Zealand. This particular garment is an excellent example of their work. Using trademark 'Sister' accessories, such as a waistcoat, and tapa/feather discs), the Pacific Sisters have incorporated recycled resources from their '... urban environment, traditional and contemporary fibres, to produce distressed deconstructed wearable art pieces that express (their) uniqueness as an urban tribe'.

Guardian of Mana

Writing in 2002, artist Rosanna Raymond, described 21st Sentry Cyber Sister as the “..kaitiaki (guardian) of our mana as Pacific Sisters, a warrior on duty. We gave not only costume pieces, but parts of ourselves. Each individual piece gains strength from coming together with the others, like us working together as a group.” In  21st Sentry Cyber Sister, the work of Rosanna Raymond (Samoan), Ani O’Neill (Cook Islander), Niwhai Tupaea (Ngati Katoa), and Suzanne Tamaki (Tuhoe, Te Arawa, Maniapoto) is represented. The costume is made up of 27 component parts. It consists of a , `hula skirt', bracelets, choker, and backpack by O'Neill; waistcoat, bra, and  anklets by Raymond;  maro (girdle), cape, head-piece, and leg ornaments by Tamaki; and earrings, a neck ornament, and arm ornaments by Tupaea.

History Makers

The Pacific Sisters have a long history of organising shows, productions and performances including the extremely successful Pacifica (1992-96), (the first major showcase for Pacific Island fashion in New Zealand); 'Motu Tangata' (1996), which was also performed in Western Samoa for the 7th Pacific Festival of the Arts, and Nga Kura or Sacred Feathers, produced in Wellington (July 1997). Since the production of this garment in 1998, the Pacific Sisters have pursued individual and collective projects within the Pacific region and internationally.

Acquisition History

The 21st Sentry Cyber Sister was officially presented to the museum at a ceremony on Te Marae, on Thursday 12 February 1998.

Pacific Sisters statement

'The '21st Sentry Cyber Sister' guards the door to our whare. She is the determinator of all who enter. There is no room here for racism, trials and tribulations. Dedicated to the preservation of our tribal culture and our struggle towards self-determination. We recycle resources from our urban environment, traditional and contemporary fibres, to produce distressed deconstructed wearable art pieces that express our uniqueness as an urban tribe. While still following the paths created by our Ancestors. We are united in the cycle where our past meets our futures.'