Taonga old and new are heading across the Tasman today to teach the Aussies a thing or two about Maoritanga.
The old treasures are from Ko Tawa, a collection of Maori artefacts which have been on show at the Whangarei Museum. The collection originally belonged to Whangarei-born Captain Gilbert Mair, the
only European to become a full chief of the Arawa tribe.
The slightly younger taonga are 11 pupils from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Rawhiti Roa, in Tikipunga, who had been showing visitors around the exhibition in Whangarei. And now that Ko Tawa is heading to the Australian Museum in Sydney, the kids are going too - for many their first time overseas.
Aroha Tueau, 11, is excited just to be on a plane for the first time. "When we're over there we'll be guiding people around the museum and telling them about how old the taonga are," she said, adding that her favourite was an 1832 Ngapuhi sternpost.
"These are our precious treasures, from our ancestors," said 15-year-old Raunu Walker.
While most of the exhibits are already on their way, the kids will be escorting a Mauri - life-force embodied in an historic rock - and presenting it to the museum today. In Australia they will perform kapa haka at schools.
Picture details:
These Whangarei kura kaupapa kids are off to Australia today to escort a prized exhibition. Back row from left: Mavis Poutai, 15, Rauna Walker, 15, and Sophia Thomas, 11; middle: Jordan Edmonds, 10, Kelsin Harding, 11, Tahu Henare, 11, and Craig Paul, 11; front: Jesarna Ashby, 20, Te Maria Cotton, 10, and Aroha Tueau, 11. Absent: Kyle Moore.
