‘Te Hono ki Aotearoa’ film screening

Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection film screenings

In July and August, we are screening five films from the Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection. This is the third film screening in that series. These landmark documentaries expand our understanding and appreciation of important contributors to our culture and the ongoing discussions about them.

This film will be introduced by Tamahou Temara, Tumu Whakarae at Toi Māori Aotearoa Māori Arts New Zealand.

Watch a documentary about Te Hono ki Aotearoa

In this intercultural exchange, Steven Engelsman, director of Leiden’s Museum Volkenkunde, describes his elation at being “allowed into the heart Māori culture.” We too are privileged to watch the exchange from inspired conception to emotional delivery.

Having hosted a successful exhibition on Māori culture, and wanting a permanent connection between Aotearoa and Holland, Engelsman broached the idea of housing a waka permanently in the museum. What follows is the story of the building and handing over of ‘Te Hono ki Aotearoa | The Link to Aotearoa’, a waka taua on permanent loan to the Dutch museum, the first such exchange ever.

Hewn from a 600-year-old kauri tree grown in the Far North, the waka was carved by a team led by master carver Takirirangi Smith and constructed under the skilled guidance of master waka builder Hekenukumai (Hec) Busby. Hec is quietly proud in his assertion, “The waka is number one in our culture.”

One of the film’s many highlights shows the waka’s reception by its Dutch guardians on October 18, 2010, in a moving ceremony with Māori and Dutch participants joining together in the ceremonial rituals. Te Hono ki Aotearoa allows us to observe the many exchanges between the two parties both in Holland and in Aotearoa and the impact of Te Hono ki Aotearoa on another cultural environment.

More screenings of films from the Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection

Save the dates in your diary for the five documentaries we are screening from the Luit and Jan Bieringa documentary collection.

Dates of Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection film screenings

Check before you come

Due to COVID-19 some of our events can be cancelled or postponed at very short notice. Please check the website for updated information about individual events before you come. For more general information about National Library services and exhibitions have look at our COVID-19 page.