“Ko Arikirangi koe na nga rau o Matariki e
E hora i runga rā he whatukura na Hinematioro
Nau mai haere mai, kia mihi atu ki te kahurangi e”
Te Koha Tuatahi – The First Gifts
The Te Koha Tuatahi project has been an aspiration of Te Aitanga a Hauiti for many years. Te Koha Tuatahi Project is essentially the loan of the Hinematioro pou from Museum der Universität Tübingen (MUT), Germany to Uawa. This pou is the art form/taonga of the greatest antiquity for the iwi of Te Aitanga a Hauiti.
The personalities and the events that led to Hinematioro gifting the pou to Captain James Cook in 1769 was the inspiration of the now nationally recognised mantra “Dual Heritage, Shared Futures”. These encounters between Te Aitanga‐a-Hauiti and the British visitors mark the first significant, positive exchange between Māori and Pākehā, and are the beginning of the dual heritage and shared history of present day residents of Uawa.
This project was made possible by Tairawhiti Museum, with support from Tubingen Museum, Eastland Community Trust, NZ Lottery Grants Board, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the German Embassy in New Zealand and Indemnified by the New Zealand Government.
The Power of Hinematioro
A reenactment of 16-year old Hinematioro, Uawa, 1769
Hinematioro was of the senior leadership of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti when the Endeavour arrived. Her senior lineage and aristocracy was recognized throughout the Tairāwhiti and tribal Aotearoa. She was well known for her manaaki (hosting responsibilities) and fair and equitable distribution of tribal resources. Hinematioro and her cousin Te Whakatatare-o-te-rangi were the tribal leaders when Ūawa was visited by Captain James Cook, the Raiatea chief Tūpaia and the crew of the Endeavour in 1769.
Despite her youth she led the welcoming party at Ōpoutama (Cooks Cave) with Te Whakatatare-o-te-rangi. Hinematioro, sanctioned the gathering of flora and fauna specimens by the Endeavours scientists. 160 native New Zealand species, previously unknown to those onboard the Endeavour, were recorded and stored as part of the Banks collection at The British Museum of Natural History in London. She sanctioned the provisioning of the Endeavour and the exchange of resources including taonga. As a token of the generosity of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Hinematioro gifted a pou from her own whare. The pou was recognised as an example of the Hauiti carving style and was a centre piece in the Banks Exhibition in Bonn. Today, the pou rests in Museum der Universität Tübingen (MUT), Germany.
He whainga tapuwae
A number of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti artists and students have visited the pou and plants on two occasions (2007 and 2009) as an international pilgrimage to visit our taonga around the world. There is no denying the significant impact these two experiences had on those who have made the pilgrimage to meet Hinematioro.
Te Ahikā 2019 | Te Koha Tuatahi – The First Gifts
Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti consider the Hinematioro pou, and Uawa flora and fauna specimens gathered by the Endeavours scientists in 1769, the first ever koha exchanged between the two great nations of Aotearoa and Great Britain.
This year, Te Aitanga a Hauiti and the Uawa community are celebrating Te Ahikā. Te Koha Tuatahi and the Hinematioro pou are a centrepiece of these celebrations. This event celebrates the depth of history unique to Uawa. It commemorates the legacy, stories and tradition of Te Aitanga a Hauiti and wider Tairawhiti that was represented in the leadership of the ancestor Hinematioro. It also highlights the significance of host responsibilities for the visitors from another land.
Alongside the Hinematioro pou, we have also endeavoured to replenish the native Uawa flaura and fauna specimens that were gathered by the Endeavours scientists in 1769. Kew Gardens have provided Te Aitanga a Hauiti with descendant seeds from the specimens taken. These seedlings have been planted as part of Uawanui Sustainability Projects descendant seeds project. This provides a full spectrum of reimagined koha that were gifted by Hinematioro and Te Aitanga a Hauiti to the crew of the Endeavour in 1769.
The support for Te Koha Tuatahi is from an iwi and a community, that Te Koha Tuatahi will set a precedent certainly in Uawa, who would like to experience a taonga of this antiquity in their midst. The impact that this will have on the creative and artistic imaginings cannot be understated. Te Ahikā also thank the staff of Tairawhiti Museum and Tanja Schubert-McArthur for their contribution to this project.
On the 23rd of October 2019, a pōhiri at Hauiti Marae will welcome the Hinematioro Pou to Uawa after 250 years. Concluding this pōhiri, the Pou will be installed at the Tū Te Whaihanga Exhibition at Tairawhiti Museum.
Banks Plant Print Collection | part of Te Koha Tuatahi
These framed plant prints will be exhibited as part of the Te Koha Tuatahi project,
to accompany the Hinematioro Pou
Watch | Te Waka o Hinematioro performed by nga taiohi a hauiti
This song is a part of the 'Hinematioro Album' released by Tolaga Bay Area School and Kuranui in 2003. This version of 'Te Waka o Hinematioro' is sung by Nga Taiohi a Hauiti.
read more | the return of the Hinematioro Pou to Hauiti Marae, 23 Oct 2019.
