Te Heke Rangatira - the journey of the waka, Aratoi

Te Heke Rangatira - the journey of the waka, Aratoi

The 14.4 metre waka taua (war canoe) Te Heke Rangatira has been the centerpiece of the Wairarapa Moana exhibition since its dramatic arrival through a specially created hole in the gallery wall in November - and is the focus of a free talk this week.

Visitors will be treated to a presentation on the history of the waka and its relationship with Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, with speakers Arapata Hakiwai and Cheryl Hutana, a descendant of the original owner, Ani Hiko.

Te Heke Rangatira was originally a fishing canoe, and was later used to transport people and goods across Lake Onoke. It was gifted to the then National Museum in 1905 by its former owner Ani Hiko, the daughter of Wairarapa Moana rangatira Te Hiko-o-te-rangi.

It was during its time in the Museum collection that the elaborate carved prow and other adornments were added, transforming it into a war canoe – an alteration common at the time but one that would not be allowed to happen to taonga Maori today. The carvings were done by Te Atiawa carver Tamati (Thomas) Heberley in 1926.

The waka was loaned to the Canterbury Museum in 1949, where it was displayed for 50 years, unfortunately inaccessible to its people and without its provenance being fully understood or communicated. It was returned to the National Museim in Wellington in 1993 where, apart from a brief visit to the Wairarapa, it languished in storage.

The waka was restored for the Wairarapa Moana exhibition, with the help of local iwi, and many have expressed a wish for it to stay in Wairarapa. Local iwi believe the original intention of the gifting by Ani Hiko can only be fulfilled by having it permanently housed on display in Wairarapa. The talk will explore the waka’s complex journey and the issues this raises.

Te Heke Rangatira - the journey of the waka, Aratoi, Thursday 28 April, 6-7.30pm.

The Treaty of Waitangi and Wairarapa Moana, Arartoi, Saturday 7 May, 2-3.30pm.

For more information on Wairarapa Moana events, go to www.aratoi.co.nz.

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