A presentation on the history of the waka and its relationship with Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa with Arapata Hakiwai and Cheryl Hutana.
Te Heke Rangatira Dominion Museum c.1936
Cheryl Hutana is the great granddaughter of Ani Hiko who she says “had the foresight to give the Waka to the NZ government so that it could be appreciated by future generations”. Cheryl is drawn to live in the Wairarapa because like her father she has a strong closeness and pride in her Maori heritage and a heart felt desire to ensure that Te Heke Rangatira is looked after forever. Cheryl feels very privileged to be associated with our waka.
Arapata Hakiwai is the Scholar, Mātauranga Māori, at Te Papa Tongarewa responsible for strategic research on the Māori collections. Previous to this he was the Director of the Mātauranga Māori Directorate responsible for all the Maori taonga at Te Papa Tongarewa. He has held various roles at Te Papa and has extensive networks and relationships both within New Zealand and overseas. In the early 1990's he was the co-curator and leader of the restoration project of the carved Maori meeting house Ruatepupuke held in the Field Museum, Chicago. Arapata is presently enrolled in his PhD at Victoria University and is leading a research project funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga: The National Institute of Research Excellence for Mäori Development and Advancement that investigates the creation of an international digital inventory of Māori & Moriori taonga held in overseas museums. His tribal affiliations are Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu.