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Kotahitanga: Ō Wairoa Marae in the Tainui Garden of Memories
Project Type
Exhibition
Date
2025
Role
Director
Location
Uxbridge: Arts and Culture, Auckland
Photography Credit:
Unknown, Tatiana Harper, Paul Brobbel
'Kotahitanga: Ō Wairoa Marae in the Tainui Garden of Memories' is an exhibition developed by O Wairoa Marae and UXBRIDGE Arts and Culture and hosted in the Malcom Smith Gallery between 10 May and 21 June 2025.
An overview of the exhibition from its webpage:
When Emilia Maude Nixon arrived in Howick in 1925, she established the Tainui Garden of Memories in the spirit of Kotahitanga (unity), with the support of Ngāi Tai kaumātua, under the korowai of the Kiingitanga.
In the past thirty years, the Tainui Garden of Memories has become Ō Wairoa Marae. The vision of Kotahitanga has remained since Emilia Maude Nixon, despite violent events and confrontation, because of the resilience and leadership of Whaea Taini Drummond who has been kaitiaki since 1983.
In this exhibition, the history and purpose of Ō Wairoa Marae in the Tainui Garden of Memories is explored through kōrero, taonga and artefacts, all of which have remained onsite through this history.
The marae, garden and Emilia Maude Nixon’s collection that sit within are a unique and cherished part of the community, a living taonga that amplifies togetherness and respect for all peoples – tuku aroha.
As Kiingi Tūheitia reminded us, “The wind in our sails is kotahitanga and with that, we will reach our destination.”
