Overview
The acquisition highlight of 2010 was undoubtedly John Webber's 1875 painting of a Tahitian woman, Poedua. Considered one of Webber's most significant works, the portrait has a direct relationship with Te Papa's two other Webber paintings, Portrait of James Cook and Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound. These are the only voyage-related oil paintings by Webber held in New Zealand public collections.
The acquisition of three pieces of jewellery by Octavia Cook are some of the last made under the jeweller's Cook & Co brand and update Te Papa's 2004 acquisition of work in the series. A pendant and two necklaces by Lisa Walker helped better represent one of New Zealand's most internationally successful contemporary jewellers.
Six photographs and two DVD works acquired this year are part of Lisa Reihana's evolving 'Digital marae' series. They form a contemporary, digital take on poupou, the carvings (or in some instances paintings) that line the walls of wharenui (Maori meeting houses). They complement two earlier Reihana images acquired in 2001, Mahuika and Marakihau.
Other notable acquisitions included 26 photographs by Frank Hofmann; a survey collection of photographs by Terry O'Connor; 4,058 photographs (comprising vintage reproduction prints and transparencies) by Brian Brake; 19th century portrait photographs; and the paintings Shark, angel, bird, ladder by John Pule, Pocket full of rainbows by Séraphine Pick, and Untitled (kowhaiwhai panel) by Theo Schoon.