Whetū – “Stars can be held in things that don’t always shine bright, but that doesn’t
mean they don’t capture the light, that they aren’t stars.”

Whetū an 11 year old indigenous Māori kotiro, decides to attend HORA NGĀ WHETŪ an art exhibition expressing different installations of Māori history. She becomes curious that the exhibition features her name and therefore becomes enticed regarding how her name has been captured in history.

We travel with her to experience the art exhibition not realising who we are truly there to support. While she experiences her own bloodline and questions whose view points are shared by who, audiences are guided into the role of KAITIAKI. We are guiding our Rangatahi as expressed and represented in WHETŪ who is seen capturing with her tāonga throughout the installations. We soon realise that WHETŪ has a deeper understanding of capturing Stars and she offers her tāonga back into the exhibition, expressing that the silence of unnamed uncut “not so famous” objects hold the most memories. The most light. The most stars. They are raw, natural, real and sacred.

We rarely have the opportunity to see the full scope of experiences and talents demonstrated by Tūrongo Collective’s Native Guardianship group, Te Whānau Āio, outside of their work at the Auckland Museum holding ambassadors from around the globe looking for Māori Cultural engagement.

We invite you to join us for an evening celebration featuring a series of stories and theatrical activations that have been international favourites as well as indigenous favourites over the years.

From Waitaketetake featured in TEMPO DANCE FESTIVAL, Kia Maumahara AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM ANZAC and LIVING TĀONGA AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM. This event is an opportunity for whānau to come together and enjoy an array of significant stories that showcase Māori excellence on an international level.

The night will also feature our Youth Internship programme, NGĀKAU WHIWHITA. A youth internship programme that focusses on instilling Rangatahi in life frames via the longevity that exists in our indigenous models. HORA NGĀ WHETŪ gives you a chance to see this year’s first intake of students activating these templates alongside their peers and kaiako.