Post #597835 by Club Nouméa on Sat, Jul 16, 2011 3:10 AM

I just wanted to add to Komohana's comments about tikidom down under.

Here in New Zealand, there was a definite stepping back from tiki culture as a popular art form in the 70s and 80s as the result of a PC mentality that equated any non-traditional use of Maori tiki artforms as a form of violation of traditional Maori culture, and as an expression of European cultural imperialism. People used to disparagingly use the term "plastic tiki" as a synonym for cynical, exploitative, inauthenticity. Interestingly, some of the most self-righteous people I have met regarding this topic were in fact certain middle-class Pakehas (NZers of European descent) who were only Maori to the extent of the bone carvings they wore as a solidarity symbol.

Now, in the early 21st century, the offspring of that PC generation seems to have a light-hearted approach to tiki culture and this new generation is enjoying tee-shirts, postcards and other items incorporating tiki symbols, without getting worked up about it. There are still diehards out there though.

Public tiki bars and restaurants are still unknown here - I will consider the last cultural barrier to have fallen if one ever opens in Auckland (the largest Polynesian city on earth) and it can stay open without being closed due to protest action. There are some serious taboos to overcome if this happens though. For instance, in Maori culture, the head is tapu, so drinking alcohol out of a tiki mug with a moko on it could be considered quite insulting.

CN