Public invited to traditional Māori Arts Symposium

Eraia Kiel. Supplied photo.

Te Arawa artists will share Māori knowledge with the community at a Māori arts symposium beginning next week.

New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute is hosting the NZMACI Traditional Arts Symposium from 16 – 19 September at Te Puia in Rotorua, as part of the Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival.

NZMACI general manager, Eraia Kiel, says as New Zealand's largest cultural tourism operation, it made sense for NZMACI to partner with the festival.

'NZMACI is a guardian of Māori culture, and has a strong national and international focus on bringing our culture to the forefront. The symposium will encompass several artforms and facilitate diverse panel discussions.”

Eraia encourages everyone – locals and visitors alike – to come along and learn more about Māori history and traditional artforms.

'Manaakitanga (hospitality) and sharing are ingrained in us as Māori. And as kaitiaki (guardians), it's imperative to us to respect all people and cultures. Māori are very inquisitive people. No matter who we talk to, we strive to find a common foundation and the similarities we have with others.”

He says the week-long symposium may be an eye-opener for some people.

'These wānanga (workshops) enable our visitors, including our local community, to learn why Aotearoa and the Māori culture are unique. They also provide an opportunity for us as artists to hear questions from those who come along.

'The world is awakening to indigenous knowledge, which is hidden in the arts and Māori culture, and we want to share some of this mātauranga (knowledge) with people,” he says.

Symposium events open to the public:

Raranga | Weaving

When: Monday 16 September - Wednesday 18 September

Time: 10am – 2pm

Where: Te Puia Weaving School, Te Rito.

A weaving display will be hosted by the head (tumu raranga) of Te Rito, Edna Pahewa.

Kete Aronui | A range of Māori artforms

When: Tuesday 17 September – Thursday 19 September

Time: 1 – 3pm

Where: Te Aronui a Rua Meeting House, Te Puia

From raranga to kapa haka, tāmoko to clothing designers and painter to whakairo. An amazing versatile range of toi Māori artists will be part of a panel discussion moderated by Mercia Yates.

Panel speakers:

Tuesday 17 September: Chanz Mikaere, Te Mauri Kingi, Tawhanga Nopera, Kereama Taepa

Wednesday 18 September: Tina Wirihana, Donna Campbell, Regan Balzer, and Mereana Ngatai

Thursday 19 September: Hohua Mohi, Wetini Mitai-Ngatai, Ngamoni Huata

The symposium is open to anyone to attend. For inquiries please email online@tepuia.com.

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