July 31, 2013
Mana whenua take place in welcoming shed
Mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau will be a permanent presence at Auckland’s new cruise ship welcoming centre on the waterfront.
The refurbished Shed 10 on Queens Wharf was opened this morning.
The shed was saved from demolition by the weight of public opinion, after its companion was pulled down to make room for the Cloud for the Rugby World Cup.
Bernard Makoare, who was part of the team that created the artworks for the building, says Ngati Whatua has a long tradition of welcoming visitors, with the cry of "tirohia, tirohia" ringing out to alert those on the shore when a waka came into the harbour.
"The people visiting were likened to the spotted shag, te kawau tikitiki. So those words were an alert to the people of the land to be genuine in the welcome for when they arrive here there will be an encounter of people. The same sort of encounter that Apihai Te Kawau envisaged in his invitation to Governor Hobson to come to Auckland to establish the city," Mr Makoare says.
Shed 10 will also be an events centre, with Atamira Māori in the City booked in for September.
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