Waka Te Hono Ki Aotearoa

Join us for a special evening to celebrate the 10th anniversary of waka 'Te Hono Ki Aotearoa' and an extraordinary intercultural partnership!

In 2020, it is the 10-year anniversary since the waka taua Te Hono ki Aotearoa (The Link to New Zealand) was ceremonially gifted, on permanent loan, to the Museum Volkenkunde. This is the Netherlands Ethnology Museum in Leiden, the Netherlands. It is the only waka taua in the Northern Hemisphere.

The late Sir Tā Hekenukumai “Hector” Busby built the waka, and it was specifically designed for Dutch conditions such as a lowered sternpost to fit under low city bridges. It was his 27th waka, and he saw the exchange as part of a bigger intercultural partnership.

To raise awareness of this unique intercultural partnership and to mark the 10th anniversary, the Netherlands Embassy will screen the documentary, “Te Hono ki Aotearoa” by New Zealand film maker Jan Bieringa. The film is about the commissioning, the making, and the handover of the ceremonial waka. Ambassador Mira Woldberg will give opening remarks.

Following the Wellington film screening is a panel discussion. The panel moderator is Arapata Hakiwai, Māori Co-leader at Te Papa. The panelists are:
- Steven Engelsman, the former Director of the Museum Volkenkunde
- Jan Bieringa, Director of “Te Hono ki Aotearoa”
- Tamahou Temara, Toi Māori Aotearoa Operations Manager
- Alex Miesen, member of the Dutch waka crew from Leiden

Please reserve your free tickets on Eventbrite as space is limited and for catering purposes. We welcome you to share this invitation with interested friends, family and colleagues.

We hope to see you at the National Library on the 11 February!
We ask that you arrive 15 minutes early for a 6pm start. Entrance is from Aitken Street.

Questions? Email Netherlands Embassy at wel-ea@minbuza.nl