Open Late: He Raa Maumahara

Looking back on the life of Te Rongo Paomamao Join the descendants of Te Rongo Paomamao to hear about her extraordinary life during the New Zealand wars. Dan Te Kanawa, Rangi Te Kanawa, and Dr. John Hetet will share some family history of their tuupuna Rongo Paomamao. Rongo's children and mokopuna include the weavers featured in our Ripoi Anemata, Ripoi Inamata exhibition. This free public talk will look at the past, present and future of Aotearoa through this extraordinary woman's life. On October 28 we commemorate Te Puutake o te Riri, He Raa Maumahara, our National Day of Remembrance of the New Zealand Wars. The New Zealand Wars took place in the 1840s-1870s when there were disagreements over the interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The invasion of the Waikato was a crucial part of this history, including the Battle of Rangiriri and the tragedy at Rangiaowhia, which Te Rongo Paomamao survived. The 28th of October commemorates the date when He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni was signed in 1835.