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

The late Sir Tā Hekenukumai “Hector” Busby built the waka. 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, the Netherlands Embassy will screen the documentary, “Te Hono ki Aotearoa” by New Zealand film maker Jan Bieringa. Following the documentary there will be a panel discussion on the theme: 10th anniversary of the Waka Te Hono ki Aotearoa, connecting people and navigating a future course. The Netherlands Ambassador Mira Woldberg will give opening remarks.

Panelists:

• Chair — Arapata Hakiwai (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, and Ngāi Tahu), the current Kaihautū / Co-Leader of Te Papa Tongarewa, National Museum of New Zealand
• Steven Engelsman, the former Director of the Volkenkunde Museum
• Alex Miesen, member of the Dutch waka crew who look after the waka
• Jan Bieringa, Director of “Te Hono ki Aotearoa”
• Tamahou Temara, Toi Māori Aotearoa Operations Manager

The Netherlands Embassy is organising three free events in February co-hosted by Toi Maori Aotearoa in collaboration with Jan Bieringa, Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the National Library of New Zealand. Our two other events take place in Waitangi on 4th February and in Takaka, Golden Bay on 18th February.

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

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes early for a 6:00pm start. Entrance is from Aitken Street.

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