Senior lecturer Lala Rolls from film studies invited knowledge-holders from across Te Herenga Waka and the Pacific to enrich our understanding of our physical world, and the interconnectedness of people across the Pacific.

Along with an opportunity to become a star with our constellation creator—the following events explored our rich history:

• All week, screens in The Hub—Be a star with our Matariki asterism interactive experience, developed by Evan Ryan from the Master of Design Innovation. Check out Matariki and see yourself represented in a constellation with your friends and colleagues.
• 10 – 12.30 pm, Rātū 9 July, The Hunter Lounge—Screening of Ngā Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigators, followed by a Zoom hui from 11 am involving actor / broadcaster / archivist / waka voyager Lawrence Wharerau, Gweagal Australian Theresa Ardler, and international guests from across the Pacific.
• noon ‒ 1 pm, Rāapa 10 July, The Hunter Lounge—Gweagal scholar Theresa Ardler was in conversation with Te Herenga Waka's Jacs Forde about the Gweagal clan's relationships with whale migrations along the New South Wales coast.
• 12.30 ‒ 1.30 pm, Rāpare 11 July, The Hunter Lounge—Screening of historical footage of matariki hākari (feasts) from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision, followed by a discussion led by Ngā Taonga kaimahi Paora Sweeney and Mandy Bell-Mitchell.
• noon ‒ 1 pm, Rāmare 12 July, The Hub—Dr Sara Belcher and Dr Yvette Perrott discussed the relationship between mātauranga Māori and western science, moderated by Associate Professor Clive Aspin from the School of Health.

These events enriched our understanding of Māori and Pacific concepts of wellbeing around the maramataka, offered a taste of waka voyaging culture and star navigation, explored sustainability, and explained the science behind how the earth turns and the stars 'rise'.

Our experts brought lived experiences into academic spaces and combine the knowledge of Mātauranga Māori and Pacific knowledge systems with western sciences.

More about our speakers and collaborators:

Lala Rolls (Fiji) – Te Herenga Waka senior lecturer in film, coordinator of the series.

Lawrence Wharerau (Ngāpuhi) ‒ Actor/broadcaster/archivist/waka voyager who grew up on a farm and observed his grandfather's practice of farming by maramataka. Lawrence collaborated on Ngā Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigators as tīkanga lead and will share his expertise in waka voyaging and maramataka.

Theresa Ardler (Gweagal, of the Eora region in Sydney) – PhD candidate who shared indigenous understanding of whale migration along the East Coast of Australia, and share stories of her people's relationship to whales, including burial practices.

Dr Sara Belcher (Te Arawa) – Te Herenga Waka senior lecturer in ecology and pūtaiao Māori, in the School of Science in Society.

Jacs Forde (Lapaha, Tongatapu) – Te Herenga Waka lecturer in Cultural Anthropology, with a particular expertise in indigenous knowledge and wellbeing.

Dr Nālani Wilson-Hokowhitu (Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian) – Te Herenga Waka scholar of Critical Pacific and Indigenous Studies, whose current work focuses on retracing the storylines of Pacific women voyagers and navigators.

Via Zumi:

Setareki Ledua (Fiji) – Fijian waka voyager with expertise in Drua (waka) and sustainability.

Bishop Museum, Hawai’i knowledge holders on Kanaka ʻŌiwi practices.

Dr Yvette Perrott – Te Herenga Waka lecturer in Astronomical Sciences, in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences. Speaking on ‘how the world turns and the stars rise’.

Tahitian voyagers and participants on their knowledge systems.

All talks were be recorded for use in future classes and research.