It was a last minute decision to go to the Hui-ā-Iwi 2015. On Thursday 20 November we booked our tickets and the next day we flew out. We were glad that we made the flight.
On the morning of Friday 21 November, after throwing some clothes into a suitcase, the four of us, Tāua Amiria Whiterod, myself (Emma Whiterod) and the tamariki, Manawanui and Kiritiaho, boarded the plane bound for Dunedin. Another whanauka from Ōtaki, Alistair Murchie, had already landed in Te Waipounamu.
What a privilege it was to be a part of this hui – the kai, the kōnohete, the kapa haka. Highlights included seeing whānau we hadn’t seen in a while and meeting new whānau – whakapapa and whanaukataka at its best.
It was the first time my tamariki and I had travelled to Dunedin and the manaakitaka of the three hosting hapū and the iwi whānui was exceptional – from the pōwhiri to the poroporoaki.
The guided bus tour that took trips regularly to some of Dunedin’s hotspots was great for us ‘newbies.’ The tour included the Otago Museum where Hākui, an exhibition celebrating the mana wahine of our iwi is on. Also, the Shotover Jet rides on the Taieri River were a complete thrill.
The concert on Saturday night with some of the best Māori performers – Maisey Rika, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, Rob Ruha, the Modern Māori Quintet and Beau Monga & Crew was supreme. An awesome whānau affair, with tamariki dominating the dance floor and kaumātua in prime seating in the mezzanine.
The many wānaka held throughout the hui nurtured Kāi Tahutaka and were informative and uplifting. Ka tika me mihi ki kā kaikōrero o aua wānaka.
Manawanui and Emma ready for their Shotover Jet ride.
Kiritiaho in front of the Hākui exhibition sign.
Whānau at the airport about to head home, and reminiscing about the fantastic hui.
Tāua Amiria and Manawanui outside the Dunedin Town Hall.