On January 20th 2021, NZ Opera staff and Board Chair Annabel Holland had the privilege of being welcomed on to Mataatua Marae (Ngāti Awa ki Tāmaki Makaurau) for our very first Marae Wānanga as a Company.

Our team was taken through a traditional Māori pōhiri including whaikōrero and waiata, ending in a hariru with whānau from Mataatua Marae. Tūtira Mai NZ (Wairangi Jones – Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Maniapoto and Cherie (Panda) Waititi – Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Apanui) then led NZ Opera staff and Board Chair in a full day wānanga.

We explored Te Ao Māori, tikanga Māori and te reo Māori (Māori worldviews, protocols and language), waiata (song), karakia (prayer), whakapapa (heritage), whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building) and whakakotahitanga (bringing everyone together through a Te Ao Māori lens), enriching and educating cultural competency for all involved. It was an incredible experience and way for the Company to start our year, and one that we hope to build and continue on in future.