The descendants of Kupe welcome you, as do the spirits of our ancestors. Enter Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, the sacred cradle of our tribal histories. Walk with us in the footprints of our ancestor – Kupe the intrepid, Kupe the voyager, Kupe the discoverer. Let us share his stories with you through our culture and traditions, where Kupe once made his home. Let us take you back to the beginnings of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kupe, the original discoverer of Aotearoa, features in tribal traditions across Aotearoa, New Zealand. Place names in many parts of the North Island and the northern South Island record his presence and challenges and explorations. The name Aotearoa itself is said to originate from the land’s first sighting by the great voyager’s wife. “He ao, he ao, he aotea, he Aotearoa!”
Hokianga is uniquely associated with Kupe as the place he secured for his descendants before leaving on his return voyage to our ancient place of origin in the eastern Pacific. Within a generation those descendants, our ancestors, returned to these shores. These events and histories are the foundation of our identity. Manea: Footprints of Kupe was developed from a vision had by local Kaumātua (senior tribal Elders) for preserving their heritage and sharing it with the world.
Manea Footprints of Kupe Tour
We offer you a unique cultural encounter, journeying into te ao Māori, the Māori world. Our cultural and heritage centre on the shores of the spectacular Hokianga Harbour is your first stop on this journey. Here, you will feel the warmth of our welcome as we share our stories and traditions. Our tour is a 75-minute multisensory journey of guided storytelling – through art, taonga (cultural treasures), film, performance, digital interaction and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings.
Hono / Connect
Meet your guide and begin your journey in the footsteps of Kupe. Engage in stories about our ancestors and the ancient realms of Kupe, told through carvings and the surrounding land. Deepen your understanding of Māori customs and our dynamic connections to the natural and spiritual world.
Ruku / Immerse
On arrival to our whare, Ngā Tapuwae o Kupe, our people welcome you with the timeless cultural ceremony of mihi whakatau. You now enter the Manea theatre, where a 20-minute 4D-digital extravaganza and live performance immerses you in a full sensory recreation of the rich and vibrant world of the intrepid adventures of Kupe. You appreciate in a new way the extraordinary feats of our ancestors’ ocean voyaging.
Toro / Interact
From the theatre, your guide will lead you outside to absorb the full significance of the Hokianga harbour and our story. This was not only where Kupe made his home, but also his final departure point from this land. You can now continue your journey of discovery at your leisure in the Footprints of Kupe Interactive Gallery, where digital stations reveal more details of our ancestor’s story. Before you leave, our gift shop offers you a chance to purchase a unique memory of your experience.
Duration: 75 minutes (approx.)
Departs: 10:00am, 12:00pm & 2:00pm. Bookings can be made for other times on request.
Location: Opononi, Hokianga
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