Puawai Cairns (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) is Director of Audience and Insight at Te Papa Tongarewa. She was previously Head of Mātauranga Māori and has a particular interest in increasing and enhancing Māori representation and participation across the heritage sector. She has worked as a curator on exhibitions such as Gallipoli: the scale of our war and Ko Rongowhakaata: the story of light and shadow, and co-authored 'Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance'. She is also a board member for Atamira Dance Company and the National Army Museum.