A sepia photo of a contingent of soldiers with white boots and rifles and white headwear. There is one person at one end in Sāmoan traditional costume

Interconnected spaces and materiality: Exploring German-Pacific relations

This project is a foray into the entangled relations between Germany, Sāmoa, and Aotearoa New Zealand between 1850–1950 through objects across Te Papa’s collections. Material culture is used to explore these interconnected colonial spaces and the evolution of German-Pacific networks and ideas over time.

A line-drawing of two people on a beach. The man is dressed in an Army uniform and the woman is dressed in traditional Sāmoan clothing, and hanging off him 'adoringly'.

Interconnected Spaces and Materiality: Exploring German Pacific Relations – The project

A black and white photo of a line up of people dressed in uniform

German-Pacific relations: the precolonial period

Germany’s presence in the Pacific was part of sustained engagement over a number of decades, involving formal and informal contact through modes of trade, commerce, labour, conflict, and relationship building.

Black-White-Red tricolour, with a white disc in the centre on which is an Imperial Eagle with the Imperial Crown.

German colonisation of Western Sāmoa

Western Sāmoa was formally annexed to Germany in March 1900. Colonialism was orientated towards preserving Sāmoan culture and customs as it was in that moment.

A sepia photo of people in uniform in Sāmoa hoisting a flag - they are surrounded by troops and onlookers.

The New Zealand Administration of Sāmoa

The outbreak of World War I was a time of upheaval and change for the world. As soon as New Zealand entered the war there was a rush to secure the Pacific.