Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival Finale

Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival Finale

Some of the brightest stars in the Māori musical firmament will round off the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival performance programme as part of the festival finale on Monday, 1 February.

The inaugural festival, which celebrates the unique Māori heritage, history and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau is on at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, all Auckland Anniversary Weekend, until Monday 1 February.

The festival finale, on the main stage at 3.30pm, will be a collaboration between Betty-Anne Monga, Annie Crummer, Maisey Rika and Ria Hall.

Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival musical director Leon Wharekura says the collaboration of premiere Māori artists is a fitting end to the festival: “I think we have done a great job with the festival music programme, showing what the New Zealand Māori musical landscape looks like and celebrating our identity as Māori.”

Betty-Anne Monga says the four women worked together three years ago and welcomed the chance to come back together for the festival.

“It was quite a magical experience when we worked together before. The collaboration celebrates the mix of Annie and myself, who are long established, with the fresh, vibrant energies our young wahine, Ria and Maisey.

“Music brings everyone together, and we’re really privileged to be involved in the first Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival – the first of many.

“Being involved has been a chance to learn more detail about the history of Tāmaki Makaurau, and for us as performers to say thank you to our communities who have supported us over the years.”

This celebration of Māori heritage and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau is being led by mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau, supported by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

ATEED General Manager Destination Vivien Bridgwater says fusion and balance has been a key feature of festival content.

“Festival-goers can see and experience a mix of traditional and contemporary Māori culture, established and emerging performers, contemporary Māori kai infused with traditional flavours and indigenous ingredients, and the place traditional Māori healing can have in modern life.”

Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival Mana Whenua Steering Group chair, Hauauru Rawiri says “the kaupapa of this event is one of mahi ngātahi, an unprecedented collaboration between the 19 mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau and ATEED.

“It is also an unprecedented opportunity for mana whenua to share our culture and heritage with Aucklanders and visitors of all backgrounds, and to bring them into the Māori world of Tamaki Makaurau.”

The Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival includes workshops and talks on te reo Māori, crafts, games and healing, storytelling, an extensive programme of contemporary Māori music and art, waka racing and waka rides.

Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival is one of a host of exciting events happening on Auckland’s waterfront and harbour over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, including the ASB Auckland Seafood Festival; Ports of Auckland SeePort open weekend; St Jerome’s Laneway Festival; Silo Cinema and Silo Sessions; Auckland International Buskers Festival; Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta; HMNZS Wellington Open Day and Sunset Navy Concert; and the At The Beach - 100 Years of Summer Fashion exhibition, family activities and heritage vessels sailings in and around the NZ Maritime Museum.

ENDS

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