Tapu 2020 - Waitohu: Wahine Reclaiming the Ink

Join us at Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, The National Library, the home of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and The Women’s Suffrage Petition, Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine for an afternoon of kōrero and performance from significant wāhine who have boldly reclaimed the ink.

Wāhine and waitohu
Following last year's transformative ‘Tapu: Te Awa Atua 2019’ sell-out event this year we focus on wāhine and waitohu.

Waitohu refers to a symbol, a mark, or a signature. It expresses value or worth and carries multiple interpretations depending on the context in which it is understood. Wai — meaning water and tohu meaning significant. This is also the name of a stream in Te Awa Kairanga which therefore carries meaning and connection for mana whenua of Te Ātiawa.

In te reo Māori, the act of making a mark is encapsulated in the word Tā and is incredibly vast in definition. Tā can refer to the act of printing, publishing, painting, carving, etching, inscribing, engraving and, of course, tāmoko or tattoo. It also refers to the quill.

In English, these words speak to themes of permanence and indelibility, echoing the tohu of the women's suffrage petition.

Dynamic range of presenters
A dynamic range of presenters will explore the reclamation of mana wāhine through literature, moko kauae, stories, letters, poetry and performance, as well as contemporary political activism in online and digital spaces.

Please register to attend this event: events.natlib@dia.govt.nz

Image Tapu by Robyn Kahukiwa