Latest news with #TePuia
Scoop
20-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Matariki Hautapu Ceremony At Te Puia This Morning
This morning at 5am Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) held a Matariki Hautapu Ceremony led by Te Rāngai Kawa – Te Tokotoru a Manawakotokoto and NZMACI Pou Tuarā Ranginui Rikirangi-Thomas, as well as NZMACI EA Miri Morrison-Hare. It showed a deep respect for ancestral practices acknowledging the past, present, and future through three key parts of the pre-dawn ceremony. Rikirangi-Thomas says when you consider all it encompasses, Matariki is also about health. 'It acknowledges those who have passed, and it allows the opportunity to grieve with an opportunity for closure through Pōhutukawa, it provides an opportunity to be optimistic through Hiwa-i-te Rangi and to be excited about what's to come. It also creates gratitude for what we have in this present moment. 'This morning is another step in the right direction regarding our obligation to the resurgence of mātauranga Māori.' Te Rāngai Kawa – Te Tokotoru a Manawakotokoto Tohunga Te Waata Cribb shared some insights: "Matariki is a recalibration of time that coincides with the rising of the sun. As you go through the different tau or different seasons, or kaupeka different months, there are different stars that come and rise with the sun. 'Matariki is not just about the stars but also to take note of what's happening in the environment - align yourself with the taiao, with the environment" "When we look up at the sky in the morning, Matariki gets a chance to see its own reflection through our eyes" "Sustain the divine status of Matariki by presenting offerings of kai. These offerings are whāngai hau." Rikirangi-Thomas concludes 'Matariki is for everyone to partake, it belongs to Aotearoa and that's all of us – everyone is welcome'. Te Puia is also holding a Whānau Day from 9am – 3pm with 1,700 people having bought tickets. The day includes Pā activities such as Tītī tōrea, poi and haka lessons, Matariki crafts and storytime, kiri tuhi face painting, pōhiri and cultural performances. Manuhiri also explored the Matariki taonga market with contemporary Māori artists and saw the NZ Māori Arts & Crafts Institute artists weaving, wood carving, stone and bone carving. There was also a Kai Marketplace with kai relating to ngā whetū (stars of Matariki).
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
'I felt grateful and ready for the world' - students graduate with qualifications in carving and weaving
Graduates Kingi Aupouri and Tawhiri Solomon tempering their taiaha. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Nine tauira (students) graduated from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua last week with qualifications in whakairo rākau (wood carving), whakairo pounamu me te wheua (stone and bone carving) and raranga me te whatu (weaving), with an exhibition open at Āhua Gallery to share their taonga. Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau graduate Kingi Aupouri (Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was one of three who did the wero in the haka pōhiri with a taiaha he carved and tempered. Graduation was special with his whānau over the moon with happiness, he said. "I loved it, I had a good tangi, they were happy tears, as I felt the moment and reflected on everything that I'd achieved for my whānau and the responsibility ahead with my new journey of carving. It was special to see my nan Emily Schuster's photo on the stage too." Graduate Kingi Aupouri does the wero with the taiaha he carved and tempered. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) operates on-site at Te Puia in Rotorua and is home to: Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (National Wood Carving School), Te Takapū o Rotowhio (National Stone and Bone Carving School) and Te Rito o Rotowhio (the National Weaving School). Under the 2020 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Vesting Act, tohunga conferred qualifications are given, with a history going back 99 years since Tā Apirana Ngata set up the original Act of Parliament and wānanga. This allows traditional practices to be taught and passed to a level of excellence. Te Takapū o Rotowhio graduate Maaka Toi, had his father Gordon Toi (a 12th intake Whakairo Rākau graduate) speaking in the proceedings. Maaka said graduation made him reflect on his grandparent's generation and how they didn't have these opportunities, so to be able to have studied the arts at NZMACI had been empowering. "I felt proud, supported, grateful and ready for the world. I felt blessed and stoked for myself, my peers and my family. "I came to NZMACI aiming for success and the school has given me the tools to be successful - to utilise persistence, patience, perseverance, humility, resilience, respect and longevity to last the test of time." 2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates. L-R: Maaka Toi, Kingi Aupouri, Te Okiwa Morgan, Taj Winika, Hetekia Waimotu, Tawhiri Solomon, Melissa Tamamasui, Anahera Emile, Inanga Andrews. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Te Rito o Rotowhio graduate Anahera Emile (Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Ngāti Popoto) said graduation was a bit overwhelming and then seeing the Āhua Gallery exhibition felt emotional. "Seeing all our mahi in the exhibition looking beautiful - you can feel the energy. Everyone here with me said they were proud." New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute general manager Eraia Kiel said graduation reminds us of why the Institute was established - to perpetuate traditional art forms. "This is a significant day. I'm so proud of these nine tauira, as they now take on the responsibility of the pōito to keep afloat our kupenga (net) - being our arts, crafts, and culture." Kingi Aupouri tempering his taiaha over an open flame for four days, seven hours a day. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia The graduate exhibition Tātai Whetū featuring the taonga of graduates is open until 6 July, with some pieces going to the NZMACI collection and others available to buy. One of the Graduate taonga going into collections is a taiaha by Aupouri. He and Tāwhiri Solomon both tempered a taiaha each in a fire using traditional techniques. They studied the Taonga Māori Collection at Te Papa and carved their taonga inspired by taiaha from the 1800s. Over four days, for seven hours a day, Aupouri and Solomon tempered their taiaha over open flames of a fire, turning them constantly and letting the flames of the fire lick the rākau (wood) while also working the taiaha with linseed oil, which works as a protectant over the surface of the wood, helping it to not burn. The tempering made the taiaha stronger and lighter with a unique finish. This was the first time this technique had been done by tauira at NZMACI. 2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates and their whānau in front of Te Aronuia-ā-Rua wharenui at Te Puia. Photo: Supplied / Te Puia Speaking to how it feels to see it in the exhibition, Aupouri said he had asked for it to remain uncovered, so people can touch it and feel it. "It's not just visual, but an interactive piece as well because of the tempering and traditional aweawe. I want people to be able to feel how dense the timber is, feel the design on the upoko and touch the aweawe. "Not many are doing this style of aweawe which I saw in the Te Papa Collection, so a big thanks to Te Rito o Rotowhio Tumu Cori Marsters who helped with the materials and method. "I'd also like to acknowledge Layton Robertson who answered our pātai on the process and methodology to temper taiaha." The next intake of tauira takes place on 30 June. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
08-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Fall in love with Rotorua: Māori tourism puts best foot forward
The country's largest tourism trade event, TRENZ, is underway in Rotorua showcasing some of the best places and experiences the region and country has to offer in a bid to attract more visitors to our shores, and the local Māori tourism industry is putting its best foot forward. Sean Marsh, Te Puia – New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute's sale and marketing general manager, said it was important that international visitors returned home having "fallen in love with Rotorua". Last night, Te Puia hosted the welcoming event where Te Matatini 2025 champions Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue made a surprise performance. "Nearly a thousand people arrived to Rotorua, and it's our job to manaaki them and welcome them in the best way that we know possible," Marsh said. The two-and-a-half day event is touted as the most important industry event on the calendar, connecting Aotearoa to the global tourism trade. Over its duration, the local economy is expected to get a boost of over $3 million in new spending. For Māori tourism businesses such as Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, it's an invaluable opportunity to make connections. "We envision that in three years' time we will have a large number of international travellers but they don't just show up at the door," said general manager Debbie Robertson. She said they engage with international buyers and travel agents and invite them to experience what makes them unique. "It's very important for Wai Ariki to be successful, not only for the facility, for our people. It's a large investment that we have and something we're proud of." Tourism in Aotearoa injects billions of dollars into the economy. In the year ending June 2024, tourist spending reached $11.6 billion, and according to a recent report, in 2023, Māori tourist businesses contributed $1.2 billion, up from $975 million in pre-Covid 2018. Tanya Robinson, general manager of Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village, said they have made a good recovery post-Covid and have an increase in visitors above the national average. "We're thrilled about that because our organisation is also charitable [and] it's great to be able to employ our people to be able to return value to our community, to give back to our taonga heritage buildings, our environment which is where all the funds go that we earn through the business." The village is set in a geothermal landscape and offers a unique insight into Māori living. It's an iconic tourist attraction owned and operated by Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. They have been in business for over 200 years and are always working to improve on what they offer their guests, said Robinson, and TRENZ allows them the opportunity to promote their experiences. "It's both how we get to know our customers but also how our customers get to know us, what our product is, and to learn about what our offering is." Dale Stephens, New Zealand Māori Tourism chair, said a lot of effort goes into getting things right to "show our best face to our visitors". "The opportunity for us to present all the various elements of tourism, especially our indigenous, our Māori tourism, to buyers from around the world who come and they look at what they can buy and then on sell to tourists who come to New Zealand [is important]." Today, the Government announced the removal of the requirement to certify translations of supporting documents for visitors' visa application. Instead, applicants will need to advise who translated the documents and the qualifications or experience of the translator. Tourism Minister Louise Upston said it was about removing the "friction" of having to certify English translations, bringing the requirements in line with Australia. She said they wanted to make it clear, especially to the China market, that New Zealand was open for business and "keen" for visitors to return. No doubt a welcome announcement for Māori tourism who, Stephens said, are enjoying an increase in Asian buyers coming into the country. "We know that the Asian markets are hugely important culturally to New Zealand, and to Māori tourism especially. We see this as a huge leap forward to us. "We appeal to all countries in the world but we have quite a unique tie with our Asian whānau."
