Te Wai Horotiu Turama - Queen Street Walking Tour

NOTE TE REO: The Sunday 16th July hikoi will be conducted fully in Te Reo. The other dates (15th, 21st & 22nd) are in English with some Te Reo.

Tūrama

From the karanga of Hape welcoming early waka voyagers to the open invitation from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to William Hobson to establish the settlement of Auckland in 1840, to becoming the beating heart of contemporary Tāmaki Makaurau, the Wai Horotiu valley has always been a place renowned for the extension of manaakitanga, for welcoming and extending hospitality to visitors, to guests and to ourselves.

The ancient citadels Te Ngahuwera, Te Rerengaoraiti and Te Horo Roa standing above, the bountiful Wai o Horotiu river flowing along the valley floor to meet Te Waitematā, the abundant ngahere of the valley teeming with life and song, the generations upon generations of footprints left by Mana Whenua over the millenia; all part of a native and natural landscape now lost beneath the modern city centre’s urban form, removed from our sight.

But not from our memories. Or our future.

Tūrama is an open invitation to all of Tāmaki Makaurau to revisit and re-imagine the Wai Horotiu valley. You will be welcomed and farewelled by atua, dance on the sparkling waters of Te Waitematā and Wai o Horotiu, celebrate art works by icons of Māori art and design, meet the manu (birds) of this place, and come face to face with a 9-metre-high representation of resident kaitiaki Horotiu.

Prepare to be amazed at the celebration of light, form, scale and life that has been developed for Tūrama by the creative team of Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu), Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) and Angus Muir Design.

Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council) and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are proud to bring Tūrama and the Wai Horotiu valley to life as part of Matariki ki te Manawa, for all of Tāmaki Makaurau to enjoy.

This Matariki we share in the essence of storytelling, delving into belief systems, matauranga (knowledge systems), themes, representations, that are embedded deep within Te Ao Māori and reflected through an artistic, urban, architectural, contemporary presence. Our journey celebrates various Tohu and Taonga-Toi that explore an 'ecology of relationships' reflected through our relationship with our Taiao.

Whakamanatia, a kaupapa Māori community group led by Grayson Goffe will guide these hīkoi (walking tours) alongside members of our resilient local communities. We use our Matariki constellation as the basis for our exploration, lighting our path to understanding & ecological consciousness.

A Matariki Festival event sponsored by the Auckland Council Programme Development Fund and organised by Auckland Walks & Guides.

NOTE TE REO: The Sunday 16th July hikoi will be conducted fully in Te Reo.

MEET: Departs from the corner of Queen and Shortland Streets (outside BNZ), next to the Fred Graham Kaitiaki II sculpture, near the pop-up waharoa, and finishes in Aotea Square by Auckland Town Hall.

Host or Publisher Auckland Walks & Guides