He Tohu taonga move event
22 April 2017
Speech
He Tohu taonga move event
National Library of New
Zealand, Wellington
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you all for being here today to witness and support these three taonga on their journey from Archives New Zealand to their new home here at the National Library.
Many of you have travelled a long way to be here, and I think that this illustrates the significance of these documents to New Zealanders.
This ceremony properly acknowledges the mana of these taonga and the people who created them.
For many of us, today is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
So many of you have played a significant role in making this occasion possible, that I would need to talk for much longer than I intend to name you all individually.
But I do want to acknowledge particularly those of you here from:
· manawhenua iwi Taranaki Whānui and Ngati Toa – thank you for your leadership and guidance throughout the development of He Tohu;
· the He Tohu Iwi Leader Partner Group – I have learned a lot from you all over the last three years, and truly value our Partnership;
· the iwi who are present this morning – a special thanks to Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu who have worked in partnership, rangatira ki te rangatira, with manawhenua to support this event. Tēnā koutou;
· the Women’s Suffrage Petition Advisory Group;
· the Māori Technical Advisory Group; and
· the Archives New Zealand and National Library staff who have worked hard for months to ensure these taonga could arrive here safely.
I would also like to thank our kaumatua Kura Moeahu for his guidance and assistance at every step of this long journey.
This morning’s events have the air of commemoration and achievement, but they are more than that – they are a celebration – and represent the start of a new stage in the life of these taonga.
You will see from the set-up of today’s proceedings that tikanga was at the forefront of our minds when this day was planned.
This reflects the
Crown-Māori partnership that is integral to
He Tohu –
a partnership that will continue well after the exhibition
has opened.
There has also been significant focus on ensuring that the Women’s Suffrage Petition, and the successes of the suffrage movement in New Zealand, are celebrated in today’s event.
This reflects the status of
the petition as an equal partner in the
He Tohu permanent
exhibition.
I look forward to remembering Kate Sheppard and her colleagues as we walk down Kate Sheppard Place at the conclusion of this ceremony.
I also want to
acknowledge the generations of Archives
New Zealand
staff for their tireless work that has ensured these taonga
will be preserved for future generations.
This will of course continue as our Chief Archivist, Marilyn Little continues to be kaitiaki of these taonga.
Her team will work alongside their National Library colleagues to provide the best experience possible to visitors.
In less than a month, the He Tohu exhibition will open to the public.
I welcome the opportunity for New Zealanders to be able to learn about three significant events in our country’s history through these taonga, and make their own personal connections to the signatories.
The interpretive exhibition allows a greater level of access to, and engagement with, the taonga than has ever been the case before.
The opportunity to be up close with the real things is powerful – and brings all of us closer to the people who signed them.
I have my own connection - during a tour of Archives New Zealand, I discovered that my great-grandmother signed the Women’s Suffrage Petition, and I feel very proud of this.
This morning’s ceremonies bring us one step closer to the new He Tohu exhibition and I am sure we will all remember this occasion for a long time to come.
I hope you will all be able to visit the exhibition once it opens in May –it will be remarkable, and will help all of us understand and appreciate even more the unique gift we all possess of living together in Aotearoa New Zealand .