22 JUNE 2025
2 3 4 6 8 9 10 12
Kōrero Whakataki
Hōtaka
Event Agenda
Kaikōrero
Deed of Settlement – Panel biographies
Hītori ā wā o Ngāti Awa
Timeline of Ngāti Awa Settlement
The Journey of Mataatua: The House that came home. Summary by composer Dame Gillian Whitehead
Hītori ā wā o Mataatua Wharenui
Timeline of the Journey of Mataatua
Tomo Mai
Waiata composed by Tā Hirini Mead Acknowledgements
Ki te ui mai koe i poua mai au i hea?
I poua mai au i Te Awa o te Atua, i Rangitāiki, i Ōriini, i Whakatāne!
I poua mai au i te take o Pūtauaki, he ngārara te kai.
I poua mai ahau i te puawāwātanga o Awanuiārangi wānanga rau
He uri makoko ahau nō Mataatua, kia whita
ki te aka matua a Tāwhaki-nui-ā-Hema Tihei mauri ora.
Pākaurua whātuturi te tāwari mai ana ngā kupu ā te Atua Whakamiha atu rā i ā ia mai te whitinga mai o te rā tae noa mai ki tōna toremitanga.
Me kō Matariki kai runga whakaatuhia mai nā te huhua o ngā mate o te wā
Tangi noa nei mō rātau kua riro atu ki te awanuiārangi, haere, haere, whakangaro atu rā Te hunga ora e pae nei tēnā tātau katoa.
Tēnei ka mihi atu ki a kautau e whai wāhi nei ki tēnei o ngā kaupapa e kīa nei ko “E tū nei au”
“E tū nei au” translates literally to “Here I stand”, symbolising the resilience and strength of a people in the face of numerous adversities. This phrase embodies 150 years of the Mataatua Wharenui, the enduring journey of Mataatua wharenui across the globe before its return home and, the 20th anniversary of the Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005.
It serves as a testament to the perseverance of Ngāti Awa and stands as a signpost for future generations, guiding them in their ongoing journey of identity, resilience and growth.
E tū nei au features two key components.
Part 1 is a panel discussion/Q&A with Ngāti Awa uri who were instrumental in the Ngāti Awa Settlement negotiations.
Part 2 is ‘The Journey of Mataatua Whare’ concert premiere performed by Opus Orchestra to showcase the composition created by Dame Gillian Whitehead, to Ngāti Awa before it is publicly performed in Ōtepoti. This creative piece tells of the Wharenui’s story: from the carved meeting house’s creation in Whakatāne, the loss of Ngāti Awa control over it, its travels and mistreatment, its return to Aotearoa for Dunedin/Ōtepoti’s 1925 Great Exhibition, Tūhura Otago Museum and its final return to Ngāti Awa in Whakatāne.
11.00am Pōhiri
11.30am Paramanawa
12.00pm Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005 –Commemorating the 20th Anniversary Panel:
Dist. Prof. Tā Hirini Mead
The Hon. Justice Layne Harvey
Paul Quinn
Dr. Pouroto Ngaropo (Honoris Causa), MNZM
Sharon Heta
Enid Ratahi-Pryor, QSO
Materoa Dodd
Facilitator: Joseph Harawira
1.15pm Tina
2.15pm Opening Remarks
Whakaruruhau – Dist. Prof. Tā Hirini Mead
Composer – Dame Gillian Whitehead
2.30pm The Journey of Mataatua –Orchestra Performance Opus Orchestra
3.30pm Karakia Whakamutunga
Distinguished Professor
Tā Hirini Mead
Te Pahipoto, Te Rangihouhiri II, Te Tāwera
KNZM, FRSNZ, PhD, MA, BA
Tā Hirini is a renowned Māori leader, scholar, teacher, historian and writer. He led the iwi’s Treaty settlement and founded Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, advancing Ngāti Awa and mātauranga Māori nationally. He continues to serve his iwi in the capacity of Te Whakaruruhau o Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te
Toi Apārangi o Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
The Hon. Justice
Layne Harvey
Taiwhakāea II, Hikakino, Te Rangihouhiri II, Te Tāwera, Ngā Maihi
PhD (AUT), D.MD (Hon. Causa), MCom Law (Auckland), LLB
Justice Layne
Harvey is a High Court Judge of New Zealand.
Appointed in 2021, he previously served on the Māori Land Court and the Waitangi Tribunal.
Justice Harvey is Chair of Te Mana Whakahaere o Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and has played a key role in advancing iwi legal interests through his work
Paul Quinn
Ngāi Tamapare, Ngāti Pūkeko BAgComm
Paul Quinn played a key role in Ngāti Awa’s Treaty settlement. Along with his background in law and business, Paul has served on Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and the Ngāti Awa Group Holdings board, contributing to the iwi’s governance, development and long-term cultural and economic aspirations.
Dr. Pouroto
Ngaropo (Honoris Causa), MNZM Te Tāwera, Te Rangihouhiri II, Te Kahupaake, Ngā Maihi
MNZM, JP, D.MM (Honoris Causa), MMS, BMS, Dip Tchng
Dr Ngaropo is a distinguished cultural leader dedicated to revitalising Te Ao Māori. He has held key roles including deputy chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and chair of Te Tāwera Hapū Trust and instrumental in Ngāti Awa Treaty settlement negotiations. He was appointed MNZM in 2019 and awarded an honorary doctorate by AUT in 2022.
Sharon Heta
Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāi Tamapare
LLB
Sharon Heta is a long-standing advocate for Ngāti Awa with a deep commitment to advancing iwi development. She played a pivotal role in the Ngāti Awa Treaty Settlement process as a member of both the Settlement Negotiations Support Team and the Settlement Policy Committee.
Enid Ratahi-Pryor, QSO
Taiwhakāea II, Hikakino, Te Rangihouhiri II, Te Tāwera, Nga Maihi, Ngāti Hokopū, Te Kahupaake
QSO, MBA, DipEcDev
Enid Ratahi-Pryor is a respected Ngāti Awa leader with over 30 years of experience across iwi governance, health, housing and social services. She was a member of the Ngāti Awa Raupatu Committee and Communications Team, contributing to the iwi’s postsettlement journey. As CEO of Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa, she has led key initiatives including Te Pūkāea o Te Waiora and papakāinga housing developments.
Materoa Dodd
Ngāti Hokopū, Wharepaia, Ngāi Tamaoki
DFH; MA, BA, DipSW, CQSW
Materoa Dodd is a senior Ngāti Awa leader with extensive experience in iwi governance, education and indigenous research. She represents Wharepaia on Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, chairs the Appointments and Remuneration Committee and leads several hapū trusts. Materoa has contributed to environmental research within the Ngāti Awa rohe and holds national roles in justice, heritage and Māori development.
Joseph Harawira
Taiwhakāea II Joe left Whakatāne in 1970 to attend Tipene – St Stephen’s. He spent 25 years in education as a teacher and Advisor Māori Education, living and teaching in Hamilton and Huntly for 30 years. In 2000, he joined Te Papa Atawhai, where he still works in Treaty, iwi and development roles. He chaired Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa (2019–2022).
A global storyteller, Life Member of Te Matatini and Pou Tikanga, he returned home in 2009, welcomed by Kiingi Tuheitia and Waikato-Tainui.
1867 1983 1987 1995 1999
Ngāti Awa began seeking redress for land confiscations and breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Crown made its first offer to settle Ngāti Awa’s claims, which was rejected by the iwi.
A second offer from the Crown was accepted as part payment toward a final settlement.
Formal negotiations between Ngāti Awa and the Crown commenced.
The Waitangi Tribunal released the Ngāti Awa Raupatu Report, acknowledging that the Crown’s land confiscations were unlawful and breached the Treaty of Waitangi Heads of Agreement signed with the Crown.
A final Deed of Settlement was agreed upon between Ngāti Awa and the Crown.
The Deed of Settlement was signed in Parliament, marking a significant milestone in the settlement process.
2002
27
MARCH
2003
Ngāti Awa members ratified the Deed of Settlement through a postal ballot.
The Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005 was enacted, finalising the settlement and establishing Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa as the governance entity to manage settlement assets.
2004
MARCH
2005
The Journey of Mataatua Whare was commissioned by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra for performances by the DSO in Ōtepoti. Today’s performance is presented by Opus Orchestra Trust, the professional orchestra for Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, telling the true story of the great Ngāti Awa wharenui Mataatua, built in the 1870s.
The project began when DSO concertmaster Tessa Petersen approached me with the idea. Together, we travelled to Whakatāne to seek permission from Ngāti Awa, whose support – especially from Tā Hirini Mead – was essential to the work’s development.
Tessa led historical research and collaborated with Video Factory on visual content, while I composed the music and crafted the text. The resulting work explores the remarkable journey of Mataatua – dismantled, relocated and returned across continents – a story of cultural resilience and loss. The production features Tomairangi Henare embodying te ao Māori
and the voice of Ngāti Awa; Paul Whelan as a Pākehā figure - both colonial official and Tribunal judge; and Rebecca Ryan as the living spirit and voice of Mataatua Wharenui.
We are deeply grateful to Ngāti Awa and Kāi Tahu for their guidance and support in bringing this powerful, multidisciplinary tribute to life.
Dame Gillian Whitehead (DNZM), of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāi Tūhoe descent, is a renowned Aotearoa composer whose work spans orchestral, operatic and chamber music, often incorporating taonga pūoro and te reo Māori. A former teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium, she’s received numerous honours including Arts Foundation Icon (2018) and Ngā Tohu a Tā Kingi Ihaka (2021).
1870s .................. Building of Mataatua commences
1875..................... (March) Mataatua is officially opened
1879-1881 Erected inside out in Sydney, Australia for their international exhibit
1881 .....................The whare is sent to London, England and erected briefly at the entrance of Kensington Museum
1881-1922 Dismantled and stored in Kensington Museum Cellars
1922-1925......... Re-assembled for the Wembley Exhibition
1925-1995 ........ Returned to New Zealand and exhibited in the Dunedin Exhibition
1927-1930 ......... Mataatua stood at Logan Park, Dunedin
1930 .................... Installed but shortened to fit in the Otago Museum
1946 .................... Ngāti Awa kaumātua petition Govt for the return of land and Mataatua Wharenui
1996 Mataatua returned to Whakatāne after many years of negotiation
1996-2011 ......... Restoration program is implemented to restore and replace the damaged and missing carvings
2011 (September) Mataatua Wharenui is officially reopened along with the Te Mānuka Tūtahi complex.
E tuku atu nei i te rau o te aroha e
Tomo mai ki roto, i a Mataatua
He whare nekeneke, i hoki mai
Kia mihia koutou, e ngā pou tīpuna
E tuku atu nei i te rau o te aroha e mo koutou kua wehe
Tomo mai e ngā manu, ngā manu tuārangi
Ki roto i te mōwai, āhuru e
Ki te, mōwai, rokiroki tau ana
E tuku atu nei i te rau o te aroha e
Mataatua ē tū tonu
I ākina koe e ngā tai
I ūaina koe e te ua
I pūhia koe e te hau
Te aroha mōu Mau tonu! Mataatua
Tomo mai e ngā manu, ngā manu tuārangi
Ki roto i te mōwai, āhuru e
Ki te mōwai, rokiroki tau ana
E tuku atu nei i te rau o te aroha e
Mataatua ē tū tonu
I ākina koe e ngā tai
I ūaina koe e te ua
I pūhia koe e te hau
Te aroha mōu mau tonu! Mataatua
Mataatua
Te aroha mōu mau tonu, hī!
Tomo Mai was created in 2022 from words by Tā Hirini about Mataatua whare. During a noho with performing arts kaiako at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, he shared the text, which was then developed into a waiata-a-ringa by the group. Acknowledged contributors include Naomi Herewini-Houia, Ryan Te Wara, Tawhero Haitana, Te Taepa Kameta, Joylene Rohe-Karauria and Tipene Biddle. Though often called “Hirini’s Waiata”, he regards it as a shared composition and is well known throughout Ngāti Awa but also used today in the performance composed by Dame Gillian Whitehead.
We acknowledge with deep gratitude all those who have shaped the journey of Ngāti Awa – our tīpuna who laid the foundations, our kaumātua and kuia who upheld te reo me ōna tikanga and the many who fought for justice through the Treaty settlement process. Your mahi, your vision and your aroha have carried us to this moment. Today, Ngāti Awa stands strong – united in identity, purpose and pride. To the uri whakatipu, may you walk boldly in the footsteps of your ancestors.
This event marks the beginning of a series of commemorative events to be held throughout 2025 with our Ngāti Awa affiliates Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa – Ngāti Awa Social & Health Services, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Mānuka Tūtahi – TumekeFM-SunFM and Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi, each acknowledging the enduring legacy and achievements of Ngāti Awa as we honour the past and look boldly to the future.
“Ko Ngāti Awa te toki, tē tangatanga i te rā, tē ngohengohe i te wai.”
Ngāti Awa is the adze whose bindings cannot be loosened by the sun or softened by the rain – tēnei te iwi e tū nei!
He mihi nui tēnei – heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting this special event. Your contributions have helped bring our kaupapa to life and made it possible for our whānau and hapori to come together in celebration. Ngā mihi maioha, ngā mihi matakuikui ki a koutou.
