One of the key purposes of the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata is to serve as a bridge between the cultures of Aotearoa New Zealand and France. On the Sunday closest to Waitangi Day, we marked this special day with a tour of the Māori aspects of the museum experience. From the All Blacks bench in the forecourt, to the pare (lintel) above the front door, to the pounamu (greenstone) at the heart of the museum, visitors were led by Museum Director Elizabeth Wratislav on a journey of discovery.
“The celebration of Māori culture and presence of te reo Māori are integral to the Te Arawhata experience”, explains Elizabeth. “The whakataukī (Māori proverbs), the tukutuku panels, even the New Zealand bird song: they are all unique to Aotearoa and celebrated here in Le Quesnoy.”
Dozens of Le Quesnoy locals joined the tour, diving deep into the meaning behind each aspect. Many were surprised by the dense, concentrated expression contained within the seemingly simple Māori imagery, such as the poutama pattern symbolising whakapapa (genealogy) together with intellectual and spiritual ascension.
The tour concluded with a pepeha workshop, where visitors learnt about the traditional Māori way of establishing ancestral connections. Participants prepared their own pepeha, sharing their cultural and familial backgrounds, and learning the profound importance of community to the Māori people. Practicing the pronunciation of te reo Māori was also one way we could celebrate this taonga (treasure) protected under Te Tiriti (the Treaty). Local historian Grégory Chermeux said it was “a wonderful idea to take a moment to discover Māori culture. The pepeha presentation was fantastic.”
Waitangi Day is a chance for New Zealanders to reflect on the state of our nation as we mark 185 years since the signing of an agreement between two sovereign nations. Its themes deeply align with those of Te Arawhata – freedom, friendship and future – and we were proud to share them with our visitors on this special day.
