Te Toki Voyaging Trust to host Māori taiao panel this Matariki
In celebration of Matariki, traditional voyaging trust Te Toki is set to host a panel on environmental change, collectivising whakaaro from revered taiao practitioners of te iwi Māori.
At the free public event on July 19th in Tāmaki Makaurau, the panel will host mātanga taiao Rereata Makiha (Hokianga), Waimirirangi Ormsby (Waikato, Ngātiwai), Dallas King (Hokianga), Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr (Waikato), and host Julian Wilcox (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa).
Panellists will discuss and dissect the theme Matariki: Tai Nui, Tai Ao while reflecting on the oranga of the whenua, awa, moana, and rangi during the significant time of Matariki.
Following the inaugural Matariki national holiday last year, Te Toki founder and tohunga waka Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr says that this kaupapa represents what Matariki is based on – giving back to the community with kōrero and mātauranga Māori that allows our people to connect to Matariki and its celebrations.
“Our people need kōrero like this to help them connect to the depth of what Matariki celebrates for te iwi Māori. It also allows our wider whānau to get involved in kōrero they might not have easy access to. Bringing a panel like this to Tāmaki is a great achievement for us,” says Barclay-Kerr.
With a mixture of maramataka experts, taiao practitioners, environmental scientists and mātauranga holders, Barclay-Kerr says this kōrero is set to leave the listener with an insight into the Māori worldview on taiao and Matariki.
Amongst all the upcoming Matariki events, Te Toki are creating a space to share time with the Tāmaki community to dive into Māori knowledge specific to the environment.
Panellists will discuss the ocean, the land, freshwater and the sky, in the hope of encouraging others to join wider kaupapa in looking after the taiao, taonga and mātauranga for coming generations.
Environmental scientist and panellist Dallas King says she is grateful to have the opportunity to learn from experts like Matua Hoturoa & Papa Rereata.
“Listening to a panel like this - you just know that your kete mātauranga will mature, your ability to discern and respond to challenges around you will grow, and hopefully we will also figure out ways we can each contribute, tautoko, awhi, and help our taiao,” says King.
“Our tūpuna mātauranga is magnificent because it connects the practical and the profound with ease,” says King.
Information on the Te Toki Voyaging Trust Panel Discussion, venue location and event registration is available at the Te Toki Facebook Page or Event Page.
