Sunday, 19 October 2008
19 Whiringa-a-nuku (October) 2008
"He aha te mea nui o Te Ao māku e kii atu he tangata he tangata he tangata."
What is the greatest thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Voiced and explanation by Pāora Rangiwhetu (Ngāti Porou, Kai Tahu)
It was a night of glitz and glamour, sprinkled with the odd celebrity but ultimately it was Te Reo Māori that was the big star at the 2008 Maori Language Awards. Hosted annually by Te Taura i Te Reo Māori (The Maori Language Commission) the awards pay tribute to the ways Te Wiki i Te Reo Māori is celebrated nationally. As Justine Murray found, it's more than just a case of greeting customers with 'Kia Ora' as she mixes it with a Shortland Street actor, Diagnostic Medlab and Ngai te Rangi Iwi.
Opening hui with Karakia and implementing tikanga Māori into their work could be what gives architecture firm Tawhiri Architects, the cutting edge over their non-Māori contemporaries. Henare Walmsley (Ngāti Whakaue, Hurunga Te Rangi, Tuhourangi, Ngāti Wahiao, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Tutetewha) and Rendell Hape
(Ngāti Kahungunu) describe their business and design approach to Maraea Rakuraku.
Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi (1921 - 1985), was recognised as one of the mostprolific Te Reo Māori composers of her generation, when an award offered by Creative New Zealand was renamed, Te Tohu Aroha mo Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi in 2003. Dr Merimeri Penfold (Ngāti Kuri) was this year's recipient now making her a double award winner having been a Sir Kingi Ihaka awardee in 1998. In conversation with Justine Murray, and reflecting on career milestones Penfold reveals the challenges her and others faced in the creation of Waipapa Marae at the University of Auckland campus, in the 1970's which eventually opened on the 18th February 1988.
Dr Merimeri Penfold. Right, at the Nga Taonga Toi a te Waka Toi awards.
Kupu Hou ( New Words)
Porotehe - Protest
Hanga - Build
Kaihanga - Builder
Tohu - Award
Whare Wananga - House of learning
Waiata featured include:
Ngoingoi performed by Davalnius Prime and the Patea Maori Club - Poi E
Haere Mai performed by Kara Pewhairangi and Dalvanius - Haere Mai
