Uawanui ki Tahitinui
In July 2019, a Te Aitanga a Hauiti delegation of 55 were hosted by Mahina. Gisborne is the sister city to Mahina. It is also home to Point Venus, the place where Tupaia boarded the Endeavour in 1769. The Te Aitanga a Hauiti delegation had the opportunity to meet the President of Tahiti, Eduardo Frits, and perform at the Tahiti cultural festival, the Heiva ki Tahiti. Te Aitanga a Hauiti invited Tahiti to Uawa for the Te Ahikā commemorations in 2019.
The outcomes of Tahitinui ki Uawanui included:
Representing Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Aotearoa culture at an international level,
An understanding of Tahitian Culture and history,
Opportunities to interact and exchange cultural knowledge with Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea and Rapanui peoples.
SLIDESHOW | UAWANUI KI TAHITINUI 2019
What other community benefits or outcomes were achieved?
Promotion of Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Māori culture online
Exposure to other languages and cultures
Te Aitanga a Hauiti Centre of Excellence and Te Ahikā thank:
Mahina Village Council, Nga Marae o Te Aitanga a Hauiti,Te Aitanga a Hauiti Kapa Haka, Nga Taiohi a Hauiti Kapa Haka, Trust Tairawhiti, Te Whare Tū Tauā o Kahukuranui.
This story is about the Ariki, Te Kani-a-Takirau. He was the son of Te Rongotumamao and Ngarangikahiwa. He was born around about 1799 and died in 1956.
On the 23rd of October 2019, 250 years after it was gifted, the Hinematioro Pou was welcomed back by Te Aitanga a Hauiti and the wider Tairawhiti at Hauiti Marae.
Strictly Dancing in Uawa was an evening celebration for the Te Ahikā celebrations in 2019. This event was held at Reynolds Hall in Uawa.
Tahitinui ki Uawanui was a project to host a number of esteemed delegations from Tahiti in Uawa. This was in celebration of Te Ahikā; Te Aitanga a Hauiti reconnecting with the descendants of Tupaea from Tahitinui.
The inaugural Hauiti Huinga Rangatahi was held as part of the Te Ahikā commemorations in 2019. This event was implemented by the Hauiti Mataatahi - Ūawa Youth Advisory Group.
The He Ihu Tō Mai Nō Te Pō Exhibitions are a Te Ahikā project in conjunction with Tolaga Bay Area School & Kahukuranui.
The personalities and the events that led to Hinematioro giving the pou to Captain James Cook in 1769 was the inspiration that led to the creation of the 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 residents of Uawa.
Tenei te reo karanga o Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti ki ngā manuhiri kua tau mai nei ki Te Pourewa, ka tū ki runga i te Tāpohutanga o Hoturangi o Titirangi.
Tēnei te reo karanga ki ngā manuhiri o Te Ao, kia nau mai kia haramai rā!
A warm welcome is extended to all our visitors from near and far, greetings!
Uawanui ki Tahitinui is a week long cultural exchange for Te Aitanga a Hauiti in Tahitinui.
The significant contribution Tupaea made in the shaping of New Zealand’s heritage can form the basis for cultural exchanges moving forward, and to promote and learn about localised mātauranga and stories to educate all those living in and visiting Uawanui.