Te Heke Whakangā opening

As the karanga rang out more than 100 whānau and manuhiri representing all corners of Te Tauihu filed in to Te Kahu o Waipuna Marlborough Art Gallery to give mauri to Te Heke Whakangā on Saturday morning.

With karakia, whaikōrero and waiata we paid respects to our tūpuna, acknowledged their resilience and wisdom, and appreciated the legacy that has been left to us as we look to the future.

And although the journey has not always been easy, we celebrated this moment with pride: a pause for breath and reflection on the journey of Ngāti Rārua; knowing how far we have come, and how far our aspirations will take us.

We thank all the whānau who let us share their stories, Ngāti Rārua o Te Wairau Society, the kaimahi of Te Whare Rangahau o Tokomaru and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua who researched and prepared material, the team at Te Kahu o Waipuna, and the Marlborough District Council and Manatū Tāonga for their support.

The exhibition runs until July 28, with guides available for manaaki and to help share the stories included in the exhibition.

We hope to see you there.