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January 15, 2016
Music and art focus for first Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival
Waatea Team
Posted On January 15, 2016
The programme for the first Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival has been released, with a wide range of activities on and off the water.
The free festival festival takes place at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, on Auckland Anniversary Weekend from Saturday, January 30 to Monday, February 1.
There will be music from artists including Rob Ruha, Tama Waipara, Seth Haapu, Sammy J, Majic Paora, the Modern Maori Quartet, Leon Wharekura, Maisey Rika, and Whirimako Black, as well as kapa haka and DJ sets.
There will be workshops on raranaga, te reo Maori, poi and rakau or stick games and potaka or spinning tops, as well as demonstrations of traditional weaponry.
An area has been set aside for telling traditional and contemporary stories about Tāmaki Makaurau, and there’s a ‘Koro Lounge’ for older visitors.
Traditional healers Atarangi Muru and Donna Kerridge will hold workshops on the place of raranga in modern life and the healing properties of native plants.
Auckland carving collective Whaotapu will work on site through the weekend.
Graf artists Bobby Hung and Kairau Bradley will paint two art towers on Saturday, and on Monday it’s the turn of Charles and Janine Williams to run a waka art workshop.
This celebration of the Māori heritage and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau is being produced by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) in close collaboration with Tāmaki Makaurau mana whenua.
ATEED General Manager Destination Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater says Tāmaki Makaurau has a rich Māori identity and the festival is a chance for Aucklanders and visitors to learn more about Māori heritage and contemporary culture of Tāmaki Makaurau.
“The festival programme not only gives Aucklanders and visitors the chance to get up close and see leading Māori artists and practitioners in action, it also gives people the chance to have a go at traditional crafts and games, paddle a waka, or learn some Te Reo.”
Festival Mana Whenua Steering Group chair Hauauru Rawiri says the inaugural festival is a foundation for the future development of the evolving festival, cultural exchange and Māori aspirations for Tāmaki Makaurau.
“The kaupapa of this event is one of mahi ngātahi, a collaborative approach between Mana Whenua and ATEED. Tāmaki Herenga Waka is one of the names for Auckland and the festival is a chance for us all to bring Aucklanders and all New Zealanders in to the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori world. This is an opportunity to share what it means for convergence of our people and culture. It's a pathway to forge relationships, and build cultural awareness and understanding,” he says.
Other events on Auckland’s waterfront and harbour over Anniversary Weekend, including the ASB Auckland Seafood Festival; Ports of Auckland SeePort open weekend; St Jerome’s Laneway Festival; Silo Cinema and Silo Sessions; Auckland International Buskers Festival; Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta; HMNZS Wellington Open Day and Sunset Navy Concert; and the At The Beach – 100 Years of Summer Fashion exhibition, family activities and heritage vessels sailings in and around the NZ Maritime Museum.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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