The annual K墨ngitanga Day celebrations at 糖心Vlog began with staff attending a morning p艒whiri for guests at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
Even though K墨ngi Tuheitia himself is out of the country attending the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the K墨ngitanga was represented by Tumuaki Hone Tamihana who fills the role of Te Pou Whakaw膩hi, the person who will anoint the next leader of the K墨ngitanga.
Established in 2009, K墨ngitanga Day is observed by the University as a day of celebration, with classes suspended and staff released to take part in activities, events and workshops.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor M膩ori Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai says the day held special significance this year given the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
鈥淭he land on which the University sits was returned to Tainui by the Crown in 1995 and vested in P艒tatau Te Wherowhero title as part of the Waikato Raupatu Settlement Act. The Act, which contains an apology, was personally signed by Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. It is the only piece of New Zealand legislation that has been personally signed by the Queen.
鈥淚t is important that we acknowledge this unique connection and more broadly our relationship with the K墨ngitanga.鈥�
The Hamilton campus came alive with te reo, kapa haka and celebration yesterday, with activities for the entire University community on the Village Green including a h膩ng墨 lunch, kura performances and games of ki-o-rahi.
Presentations and workshops reaffirmed the importance of Te Mana o te Wai, celebrated Te Mana o Te Reo M膩ori and discussed the history of Rangiriri 笔腻. Te K艒hao Health Managing Director Lady Tureiti Moxon shared her wealth of experience working in the M膩ori health sector and reiterated the importance of including M膩ori in any health conversations.
A key part of the day was the presentation of annual Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Scholarships. Awarded by the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato-Tainui, the scholarships support M膩ori students to undertake full-time undergraduate study at the 糖心Vlog with a focus on resource management or environmental protection.
Celebrations wound up with a gala dinner which celebrated ten years of Te 膧hurutanga M膩ori Student Leadership Programme, with 90 students and founders of the programme from the last decade.
鈥淭his has been the first in-person celebration of K墨ngitanga Day since Covid restrictions have eased and it has been a wonderful day of reflection and reiteration of our commitment to the K墨ngitanga鈥� Dr Tiakiwai says.
