Our Story, Our Voice, Our Place

PICTURES OF UAWA: An image of Te Whare Tu Taua o Kahukuranui by Hoana Forrester. It is one of the images featured in the photographic exhibition Nga Pakiwaitara, which is part of the Te Ahika: Our Story, Our Voice, Our Place project. Picture by Hoana Forrester

TE AITANGA-a-Hauiti iwi and the Uawa community will launch an initiative tomorrow celebrating the creative and innovative spirit of the area.

The initiative Te Ahika: Our Story, Our Voice, Our Place is a journey of the heritage and aspirations of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.

It is also a lead-up to the 2019 commemorations of “Tuia - First Encounters 250”, which acknowledges the first meetings of Maori and Europeans.

This platform will be a constellation of gatherings, workshops, events and projects from the Uawa (Tolaga Bay) community that reflect the heritage and stories of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and their aspirations.

The launch will start with a powhiri at Hauiti Marae, Uawa at 11am tomorrow and will highlight four major projects to be developed over the next two years.

Nga Pakiwaitara, an exhibition by Tolaga Bay Area School, Kahukuranui students and the community, will feature large-scale photographs displayed on the walls of buildings around Uawa.

Technology will enable viewers to listen to short stories associated with each image via a QR code, encouraging visitors and locals to traverse the pathways on a virtual search of the stories.

Te Ahika chairman Victor Walker said the exhibition “paints our town and countryside with the faces and adventures of our whanau”.

“These images aim to provoke conversations about identity, sharing our heritage and lives with others who come to, or pass through, Uawa on their journey.”

Mr Walker says people should keep an eye out for other pop-up art installations throughout the township, as well as youth-led projects such as the Uawanui Sustainability Project.

“You are most welcome to join and share with us ‘Our Story, Our Voice, Our Place’.”

Tomorrow’s programme will also feature a walk to Hoturangi (Opoutama/Cooks Cove) for a brief presentation.

The programme of events for Te Ahika is managed by Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of Excellence — which is based in Tolaga Bay — guided and supported by a committee of community leaders.

The centre of excellence is an iwi-based organisation with a vision to promote and advance excellence in the cultural, social, political, sporting and academic achievements and aspirations of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti whanau, marae-hapu and iwi.