The day’s theme, Āke, Ake, Ake, encapsulates a spirit of resilience and continuation for both the Kīngitanga movement, and the University, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai
This year’s event was also an opportunity to mourn the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII and acknowledge the elevation of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VIII.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, acknowledged these two milestones as she delivered the opening address at the Hamilton campus.
"Across these significant milestones, there’s a common thread that underpins this year’s Kīngitanga Day. Āke, Ake, Ake can speak to many things – the resilience and permanence not just of institutions but also of Kaupapa of significance – including the Kīngitanga, mana reo, mana Māori Motuhake."
Established in 2009, Kīngitanga Day is observed by the University as a day of celebration, with classes suspended and staff released to take part in activities, events and workshops.
Both the Hamilton and Tauranga campuses came alive with te reo, poi, kapa haka, presentations and workshops. The programme included a lecture by Hon Justice Christian Whata on the significance of tikanga in law, presentations on the Welsh language, Abenaki culture and traditions and a private screening of Ka Whawhai Tonu, Struggle Without End a recently released film that tells the story of the 1864 siege of Ōrākau during the New Zealand land wars from the perspective of two Māori teenagers.
Staff and students in Tauranga attending an interactive wānanga on mau rākau - traditional Māori martial arts
High school students also took part in the rangatahi programme, which featured workshops on storytelling with young Māori journalists and opportunities to engage with cast members from Ka Whawhai Tonu, Struggle Without End.
The Hamilton campus Library was also gifted a new name, Te Iho o Te Manawataki, by Ahorangi | Professor Tom Roa, meaning ‘the beating heart enabling the carriage of blood to all parts of the body’, which acts as a metaphor for the role the Library plays at the University.
In Tauranga, broadcaster, te reo Māori advocate and kapa haka enthusiast Kereama Wright (Te Arawa, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Whitikaupeka) delivered a keynote speech on his whānau’s journey to te reo Māori revitalisation, while Hon Nanaia Mahuta (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Manu) spoke in Hamilton on the topic, Kei Tua o Āku Mokopuna.
Mahuta encouraged attendees to reflect on the legacy of the Kīngitanga and what it means for today.
Keynote speaker Hon Nanaia Mahuta
“The Kīngitanga was established with simple yet powerful goals – to unite our people, end inter-tribal warfare and protect our whenua and dominion,” she said.
“I would urge us to move beyond our current level of comfort and consider our kotahitanga ambition for the years ahead.”
Hon Mahuta’s speech was followed by a panel discussion featuring Kīngitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa, Te Puni Kōkiri Deputy Secretary – Policy, Paula Rawiri and Dr Willy-John Martin, Director Māori Science, Innovation and Technology at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Activities will continue into next week, with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori taking place between 14 – 22 September. This includes Professor Roa’s professorial lecture on Saturday on ‘Loving the Māori language, tikanga Māori, kaupapa Māori’ in Hamilton and a quiz night and workshop in Tauranga on learning te reo Māori.
