Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Toi Maori Aotearoa celebrate anniversary

On Tuesday, 18 February 2020 the 10th anniversary of the waka taua “Te Hono Ki Aotearoa”, which can be translated as “Connected with Aotearoa” or “The Link to New Zealand”, was celebrated in Takaka, Golden Bay/ Tasman District. Te Hono Ki Aotearoa was ceremonially gifted, on permanent loan, to the Museum Volkenkunde, the Dutch Ethnology Museum in Leiden. At the grounds of the Dutch museum, the waka is now a living exhibit, underlining the link between Aotearoa/ New Zealand and the Netherlands, bringing people together and connecting Dutch and Maori cultures.

The bond between Dutch people and people from Aotearoa/ New Zealand originated in December 1642, when Abel Tasman became the first European to set eyes on the land of the long white cloud and the first to be encountered by Maori in what is now believed to have been Golden Bay. This was the first time that Aotearoa/New Zealand was put on European world maps.

Unfortunately, in that first encounter, there was a cultural misunderstanding about protocol, kawa, and in the end, Tasman and his ships were chased away, never to return.

Those times are long past and Maori and Dutch have become true friends.

In December 2017, a special Abel Tasman commemoration event in Golden Bay was held with Dutch and Maori representatives. In May 2019, newly arrived Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mira Woldberg was warmly welcomed by Ngati Rarua, Ngati Tama and Te Atiawa. This truly symbolised the special connection between Dutch people and Maori.

To raise awareness of this unique intercultural partnership and to mark the 10th anniversary, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands co-hosted an event in Takaka in collaboration with Toi Maori Aotearoa and Manawhenua Ki Mohua. The screening of ‘Te Hono Ki in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Dutch students enjoy their time on the local waka ama - “E tu i te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e nga ngaru o te wa” “Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face”.

The event included a film screening of the documentary “Te

The documentary is about the commissioning, the making, and the handover of the ceremonial waka built by the late Sir Ta Hekenukumai “Hector” Busby. This was followed by a panel discussion with representatives of Toi Maori Aotearoa, Manawhenua Ki Mohua, Jan Bieringa and a Dutch waka crewmember from

Leiden.

“It is nothing but the people who really carry this special intercultural partnership. People who are curious and want to know more about other people, cultures and traditions and are not afraid to navigate into unknown territories to learn more about others and themselves,” says Ambassador Mira Woldberg.

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