Nina Tonga
Nina Tonga (born 1983) is a New Zealand curator and author who specialises in contemporary Pacific art. She is the first Pasifika person to hold the role of Curator of Contemporary Art at New Zealand's national museum Te Papa. Biography Tonga was born and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Her heritage is from the villages of Vaini and Kolofo’ou in Tonga. Tonga has worked at the University of Auckland in several roles including at the equity office, teaching in the Art History Department and as a Professional Teaching Fellow. She has taught at their Centre of Pacific Studies where she coordinated undergraduate courses in Pacific art, music and dance. Tonga has held the following roles at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), the inaugural Curator Contemporary Pacific Art (2017–2019) and Curator Pacific Cultures (2014–2017). Part of what drives me as a curator and art historian is the need to write ourselves into the art history of Aotearoa. We haven’t always been seen or recognised outside of our own communities. (Nina Tonga)In 2014 Tonga curated an exhibition of work by thirteen Tongan New Zealand artists called Tonga 'i Onopooni Tonga Contemporary at Pataka Art +