LATE at the Museum: Whirimako Black, The Mint Chicks

LATE at the Museum events are back for 2010. It’s time to savour your culture after hours at Auckland Museum, with the popular series returning on the first Thursday of the month.

This year the LATES feature a year-long discussion on the theme of innovation, with bands and artists performing in the museum’s galleries.

Kicking of the brand new LATE season is the annual Waitangi LATE. This event takes its inspiration from Waitangi Day to looks at innovations behind the Treaty of Waitangi settlements. How far have we come and where do we go from here

The panel discussion, moderated by Finlay Macdonald, features Sir Douglas Graham and Dr Hone Kaa. Sir Douglas is the former Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, whose distinguished parliamentary career saw him oversee some of the most significant legislation in New Zealand’s history.

Archdeacon Dr Hone Kaa is a Senior lecturer at Te Rau Kahikatea Theological College, St Johns. As both a Senior Priest and Kaumatua, Hone has been instrumental in supporting initiatives that advance Maori education and the protection of tamariki and their whanau.

Performing on the night is soul diva Whirimako Black, who has built a loyal jazz, blues and Maori fan base with her sublime blending of English song and Maori waiata. Also taking the stage is The Mint Chicks, whose innovative mélange of pop, punk and everything in between has won them acclaim at home and abroad.