Waka Maori Newsletter

WAKA www.wakamaori.co.nz

many people as one

OCTOBER 6-23, 2011 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Waka Maori is a series of events being held in a unique purpose-built 70 metre long venue that follows the form of a waka. It will be a stunning architectural addition to the colour and vitality of the Rugby World Cup 2011.

Waka Maori

Experience

Programme

Waka Maori will be held at Te Wero Island on

Waka Maori is the place where the guitars

The programme of activity includes formal

Auckland’s waterfront near Viaduct Harbour

will come out and people will take away the

dinners seating up to 210, staging for

from 6 October to 23 October 2011.

experience of having fun and being warmly

concerts and performance events, and a

welcomed into a group of people who are proud

Maori business showcase. It also includes

to show their culture and what it is to be Maori

an artisan village to display Maori arts such

in the 21st century.

as weaving, carving and ta moko, and contemporary arts such as clothing design.

Looking towards Te Wero Island

Activity

Te Waka Pavilion

There are two streams of activity at Waka Maori.

The first stream is a formal programme.

This includes

opportunities for building business connections, concerts, dinners and five performances each day.

The second stream is a planned series of ‘street’ events around the waka where people will be able to so such things as meet former All Blacks and Maori All Blacks, engage in story telling, participate in

The Waka design

learning waiata and learn to use poi.

The informal programme also includes the Maori Club Rooms where

The waka is designed to be disassembled at the end of the Rugby

visitors will be able to watch games on big screens and enjoy true

World Cup and used as a venue for other events both within New

Maori hosting and entertainment.

Zealand and offshore. It fits into two shipping containers and is also modular in design so it can be made smaller if required.

The waka pavilion will be constructed of New Zealand-made gluelaminated timber with a cover of architectural tension membrane – the same material being used on the Cloud building on Auckland’s waterfront. It will have air-conditioning and heating, staging, lighting and sound, and catering facilities.

Meet former All Blacks

www.wakamaori.co.nz

OCTOBER 6-23, 2011 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

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Waka Maori is comprised of five components staged in and around the purpose-built waka-like pavilion

THE OPENING CEREMONY Waka Manu – our opening ceremony - is filled with colour, music and dance. It’s a mix of traditional and contemporary from the time the first visitors are welcomed to Waka Maori, and the last visitors leave late in the evening. The key event for Waka Manu is an inspiring showcase of Maori business, sport, arts and culture with key Maori, business and community leaders over a five-course fine dining menu designed by a world-renowned Maori chef.

The entire programme for Waka Manu will be culturally authentic as well as creative and contemporary, and gives a taste of what will

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be on show at Waka Maori throughout the Rugby World Cup.

LIVE PERFORMANCES Every day begins with a powhiri in its traditional glory – a ceremony to touch at the heart of every visitor.

All are welcome to participate, and afterwards encouraged to engage with the hosts and talk about what they’ve seen, see how the powhiri fits within wider ceremony on marae, and they are sure to be moved by this experience. Whaikorero, or waiata, visitors can listen, learn and participate as much as they like.

Throughout each day there will be at last five live performances ranging from impromptu street theatre and kapahaka through to evening concerts with nationally-recognised bands. There’s an exciting line up of artists guaranteed to appeal to international

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visitors as well as those from closer to home.

ARTISANS VILLAGE Here at the Artisans Village visitors will watch experts in their craft showcase their unique talents. Ta moko or Maori tattooists, flax weavers, wood carvers, artists and fashion designers will all be sharing their skills and talents and love for Maori art in and around

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four magnificent whare. Quality art works and branded merchandise will be for sale.

A CELEBRATION OF MAORI RUGBY Maori and rugby are synonomous and few rugby fans will be unaware of the great Maori rugby players who’ve represented this country over many, many years. The Maori Rugby Club at Waka Maori recreates the atmosphere of New Zealand rugby clubs and is a great place to enjoy watching games live on the big screen. The highlight for international visitors is the opportunity to meet and chat with Maori rugby players they may have watched at games in their own country. Old rugby playing friends will gather here to

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catch up and hold reunions. Here’s the die-hard rugby fan’s golden opportunity to rub shoulders with Maori rugby’s elite.

PROMOTING MAORI BUSINESS Maori are smart business operators involved in exciting and innovative activities around the world. Our Waka Umanga programme stages events in conjunction with the nearby Cloud venue to leverage opportunities for business visitors in New Zealand to link up with those movers and shakers in Maori business.

Key sectors will be showcased – fishing, tourism, creative arts and entertainment – under the umbrella of Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development.

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www.wakamaori.co.nz

OCTOBER 6-23, 2011 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Waka Maori is underpinned by some important values.

MANAAKI or HOSPITALITY It is culturally important the tribal group whose home is traditionally in a specific area provides a welcome for guests to that area.

Each day elders of Ngati Whatua will welcome visitors to Waka Maori in a traditional ceremony called a powhiri. Ngati Whatua has also been responsible for the stunning teko teko or carvings that stand at the four corners of Eden Park.

DISTINCTIVENESS Waka Maori will show how Auckland is a vibrant, proud and confidently diverse global destination.

The city is the demographic ‘cultural capital’ of the South Pacific and Waka Maori will be alive with the Pacific feel.

WHANAU Waka Maori invites visitors to Auckland to experience Maori people, beyond the haka. Maori are multi-faceted: pioneering, edgy, innovative, friendly, spiritual, and culturally strong. Our suite of programmes will bring all these exciting aspects of being Maori to the hearts and minds of our manuhiri or visitors.

LEGACY Waka Maori is designed to have a useful life long after the Rugby World Cup.

There are organisations booking Waka Maori for

future use. Costs are available on request.

AUTHENTICITY Maori culture (traditions, language, contemporary life) is shared with visitors through formal interactions, for example, powhiri, staged traditional and contemporary dance and art performances.

Equally important are informal exchanges that could be as simple as a casual chat with security and staff.

www.wakamaori.co.nz

OCTOBER 6-23, 2011 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

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You find us here!

Aerial view of Te Wero Island

Carved Gate at Te Wero Island

Find us at Te Wero Island, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand from October 6 to October 23, 2011.

WAKA

many people as one

For updates and more information on WAKA MAORI, please refer to the contact details below.

info@wakamaori.co.nz www.wakamaori.co.nz

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www.wakamaori.co.nz

OCTOBER 6-23, 2011 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND