October 07, 2019
Tuia 250 joyful celebration of nation’s voyaging roots
After months of building up the commemoration of first contact as a clash of cultures, the first major event on the Tuia 250 calendar was a festival of love and joy.
Thousands gathered in blustery conditions in Tūranganui a Kiwa to welcome the three voyaging waka hourua who will join up tomorrow with the Endeavour replica and other tall ships to travel to sites around the country of note in both Polynesian and European voyaging traditions.
Te Hā Sesticentennial Trust general manager Glenis Phillip-Barbara told Paakiwaha host Dale Husband the sight of the entire community there to welcome whanaunga from Tahiti and other waka was poignant and exciting.
"Just the love pouring into the space from our community in remembrance of those connections we have across the Pacific, the joy in remembering and rediscovering our voyaging roots as a nation, and that was shared with everyone, it wasn't just for Māori, it wasn't just for Pākehā, for we were actually all together celebrating our awesome history as a nation. It was great" she says.
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