Great range of lectures at Waikato Uni's Kingitanga Day

8 September 2014

Kīngitanga Day lectures cover broad range of subjects

Several lectures form part of the programme at the University of Waikato’s Kīngitanga Day celebrations on Thursday, September 18.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr Lance O’Sullivan who will speak on “Advancing Māori Health from the Flax Roots”. Named 2014 New Zealander of the Year, the Kaitaia-based GP is a passionate advocate for Māori health and a pioneer for equal healthcare in the community. Dr O’Sullivan is speaking at 9am in the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts concert chamber.

Rahui Papa, Robert Joseph and Antoine Coffin will speak on Ngā Pakanga Whenua – The Flashpoints of War. War and confiscation are prominent in the history of Waikato and Tauranga. Commemorating 150 years since the ‘New Zealand Wars’, this panel will provide valuable Māori insights into the battles of Rangiriri, Ōrākau, Pukehinahina and Te Ranga. The lecture is at 10.45am in room S.1.04.

Also at 10.45am, Click Suite Interactive - Wellington creative director Emily Loughnan will speak on Working with Local Iwi in Design Projects. She will speak on the award-winning interactive projects they have undertaken and the processes behind their development, particularly including iwi engagement within the design process. This lecture is in S.1.01.

Maui Hudson, Dr Kevin Collier will speak on Ngā Tohu o te Taiao – Use of Mātauranga and Science for Managing Mahinga Kai. Mahinga kai has an important value for Māori. The emergence of collaborative governance models and the inclusion of Māori values in environmental objective settings provides new opportunity to link mātauranga Māori and contemporary science to produce robust and enduring outcomes for the management of mahinga kai. The lecture is at 2.15pm in room S.1.03.

He Pakiwaiata – Telling the Story of the Kīngitanga through Song is a lecture being given by Reo Graham, George and Tangiwai Ria, and Te Whānau o Waihirere. This panel will highlight compositions that tell the story of Kīngitanga through time. The compositions include items performed locally and those composed for and performed at national kapa haka competitions. The lecture is at 2.15pm in room S.1.04.

Dr Des Kahotea will give a lecture on Waikato Raupatu: The Original Land Survey and ‘Grants to Natives’. Based on preliminary research on the allocation of confiscated land to individuals and hapu in Waikato. The survey of the confiscated land and the Waikato Compensation Court were the two key features of the allocation process, and an examination of the method, practice and roles will be made with a comparison of the Tauranga Raupatu. This lecture is at 10.45am in room S.1.02.

At 2pm, there will be a screening of The Pā Boys, after which producer Mina Mathieson will speak.

The Pā Boys is an energetic, uplifting road movie that explores themes of identity, friendship and discovery. Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Telecom Playhouse.

Since its founding in 1964, the University of Waikato has had strong connections with the Kīngitanga, Waikato-Tainui and many other iwi across the country. Through Kīngitanga Day, these relationships are honoured. Kīngitanga Day is an opportunity for wider community engagement, and as an organisation that celebrates Māori distinctiveness, the University hopes to share its cultural uniqueness with the public.

Kīngitanga Day is on Thursday, September 18 and starts at 9am. Activities are free and open to the public, gold coin donation for screening of The Pā Boys.

For more information visit www.waikato.ac.nz/events/kingitanga/.

ENDS

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