Opening Night
On June 10th, 2005 (the anniversary of the Tarawera Eruption in 1886), the exhibition Ko Tawa: Taonga From Our Ancestral Landscapes opened at the Auckland Museum. It was attended by over 400 ancestral descendants of the taonga themselves, as well as by descendants of Gilbert Mair, sponsors, media and staff from the Auckland Museum.
This opening night was the culmination of a huge amount of work by a collection of people to numerous to mention here. It was a momentous and special night for us all.
Although it was the end of one journey, it was just the beginning of another. Ko Tawa will travel on for the next 2 or more years, encountering many more descendants throughout 2006 and 2007. However the most important thing we recognize is that it was just another moment in the long histories of the taonga themselves — histories that stretch back hundreds of years into the past, and which will stretch forward hundreds of more years.
The images on this page are just a few that were taken from the opening night.
Tumuaki Speech notes from opening night
Ko Tawa Opening 10 June 2005
Speech notes : Tumuaki and exhibition curator, Paul Tapsell
I. mihi
II. Apologies from Director, Rodney Wilson & AMTB Chair, David Hill
III. Ko Tawa: Community Project — sharing a vision of connecting ancestors and descendants; hou kainga and youth
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Mana Whenua — first thanks to Ngati Whatua and Taumata-a-Iwi in conjunction with Auckland Museum Trust Board for creating the context (manaakitanga/provide support, openness & hospitality) in which new ground could be explored, concerning the exhibition of museum-held taonga as understood by descendants.
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Source communities — thanks and acknowledgement to descendant elders and whanau at home and in the cities who have given so much of their time and energy to the Ko Tawa vision/Auckland Museum.
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Community of supporters — thanks to Iomedia (Mike & Sean); Sony (Martin McManus & Peter); Mainfreight (Don Braid and crew); RSNZ (Marsden Fund & research colleagues, Roger, Merata & Karen); TPK (Chief Executive Leith Comer); Batemans Press (Paul, Tracey & Tim); Te Kawautikitiki Trust (Mere Gillman) in conjunction with Sky City Community Trust; and especially nga whanau katoa (Merata, Gina, Atlanta, Jan, Ike, Kiri me nga uri o Wihapi).
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Museum community — Taumata-a-Iwi; whanau o Tamaki Paenga Hira (including Maori Values Team (Nicola, Cat, Kipa, Chanel, John, Awhina); Exhibitions (Graham & Max), Education (Peter); Marketing (Margi, Amanda, Nicola & Carla); Volunteers (Kae); Collections (Roger) and not least the field trip crew (Krzysztof Pfeiffer for his photographs) and the boys (Kelly, Stephen, Heath & Andrew) with whom I spent a few late nights pulling today’s exhibition together; also special mention for architect Rewi Thompson, carver Lyonel Grant and designers Alan Deare & Inhouse and Nick & Hannah: all of whom added the dynamic finish to a challenging concept); and not least Theresa, Rangiiria and Bernard who pulled together a very special soundtrack.
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To everyone, especially those who remain unmentioned (please forgive me) but have all contributed in your own special way to bring the Ko Tawa vision together : Nga mihi nunui koutou katoa!
IV. Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history told in a very New Zealand way — from the nineteenth century perspective of the receiver of these fine taonga himself, Captain Gilbert Mair.
V. It has been the Auckland Museum’s goal to release the essence — wairua of these taonga so they may guide us, their descendants on our journeys as they themselves continue theirs from one generation to the next.
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no glass or pushing ancestors against walls
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honour the mana (spiritual authority), tapu (sanctity) and especially the korero (narratives/stories) resting behind each taonga (exhibition label brochure & upcoiming publication)
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waka huia concept — connecting landscapes and ancestors to today’s hou kainga from where taonga originated as they journey/voyage through time
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pathway home —: provide source of inspiration to our younger Maori population living in today’s urban regions, not only in NZ but also Australia
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Complimentary technology — link our communities to taonga through Web Database and Education packages no matter where they may today live in our ever complicated world.
VI. In finishing, Ko Tawa and the Maori Court will remain open for the evening and a hakaari is provided in the foyer where you entered the Museum. Also in the foyer you will find a place where you can order a copy of the upcoming publication, DVD and CD that will enable you to explore even deeper the amazing stories resting behind the tupuna in front of us today.
VII. Mihi whakamutunga
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