Of Ngāpuhi and English descent, Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (1943–2014) is the Director of Art and Collection Services at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Mr Mane-Wheoki was educated in Auckland and at the University of Canterbury, and the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. He is a graduate in Fine Arts (with honours in Painting), English Language and Literature, and Art History. He is also an Associate of Trinity College of Music, London.
Mr Mane-Wheoki taught Art History at UC from 1976 to 2003 and served four terms as a member of the Board of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. He also served as Dean of Music and Fine Arts and on various senior management committees at the University.
As an academic art historian, he specialised in 19th and early 20th century European art and architecture; modern and contemporary New Zealand painting; and the contemporary Māori art movement.
As Kaitaki Māori (Honorary Curator of Māori Art) at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu from 1992 to 2004, he was active in developing and curating exhibitions and presenting lectures and conference papers on art, museums, heritage, and cultural topics.
Mr Mane-Wheoki has served on numerous national and international bodies including Te Waka Toi (the Māori Arts Board) and the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand; the International Council of the Centre Culturel Jean-Marie Tjibaou in Nouméa; and the Marsden Fund Council.
In February 2004 he took up the position of Director Art and Collection Services at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa where he is responsible for leading research, curatorial, collection management, loans, collection development, conservation and object support functions, and collections information systems at the museum. He is also involved in a wide range of research, publication and exhibition projects.
Mr Mane-Wheoki is currently a governor of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, Deputy Chair of the Council for the Humanities, and a member of the Council of the Royal Society. In 2006, he presented the University of Canterbury’s annual Macmillan Brown lectures.
Citation authorised as true and correct at April 2008.
