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Steerer Rutene Gabel and Kaihautü Chapman Harrison
(standing) lead Te Hono ki Aotearoa down the Thames
Ricer during the City of London Festival July 2011.
Photo courtesy of Toi Mäori.
KI TÄWÄHI
Waka Taua to represent Aotearoa at Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Hon Ch Chris ris r top o her h Fi Finla nlayso yson. n.
The appearance of the ceremonial waka taua, Te Hono ki Aotearoa
in London as part of New Zealand’s participation in the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee, is being supported by Te Puni Kökiri, the Ministry of
Culture and Heritage and Toi Mäori.
Associate Minister of Mäori Affairs and Minister for Arts, Culture
& Heritage Hon Christopher Finlayson said “The appearance of the
European based waka is an iconic New Zealand symbol for the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The traditional waka reflects the maritime
traditions of the Mäori people, as well as the important role of Mäori
culture in modern New Zealand society.”
The waka taua was built for the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden,
Holland, and will once again feature on London’s Thames River.
Te Hono ki Aotearoa was handed to the city of Leiden’s guardianship
in 2010 by representatives from Toi Mäori, and participated in the
City of London Festival in July 2011. General Manager of Toi Mäori
Garry Nicholas commented, “The waka taua is a symbol of Pacific
and particularly Mäori design innovation and adaptation brought
about by the availability of large trees in this country.”
The waka taua will be crewed by many of the same paddlers from
previous international promotions of New Zealand held in Leiden
and London.
TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | NGAHURU / AUTUMN 2012
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