Members of Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea travelled to Tāmaki Makaurau this week to proudly mark the opening of the immersive exhibition, ‘Ngā Huhua: Abundance’, at the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
The special opening event took place on Thursday evening, November 6, celebrating the iwi’s deep connection to Te Moana-nui-a-Toi, the outer Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, as mana whenua and kaitiaki.
The exhibition, presented in partnership with Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea, invites visitors into a deep blue world teeming with life, from tohorā (whales) to honu (turtles), and highlights the critical life-force of an area largely unknown and rarely visited by most Aucklanders.
“This special event showcased our deep connection to Moananui ā Toi as mana whenua and kaitiaki of Aotea (Great Barrier Island),” an iwi statement read. “The immersive experience shared our stories, celebrating the richness of our moana while also confronting the challenges and threats that have deeply impacted it.”
‘Ngā Huhua: Abundance’ brings the outer Gulf alive through storytelling, ocean science, mātauranga Māori, contemporary art, and the voices of tangata whenua. It explores how both the giants and the smallest creatures play vital roles in maintaining the balance of this marine world, gathering in abundance during the seasonal upwelling of food-rich waters—a natural rhythm that has sustained life here for thousands of years.
However, the exhibition also delivers a stark message: that lifeforce is under pressure from climate and human activity. Through interactives and compelling stories grounded in whakapapa, the exhibition invites the public to deepen their connection to the moana and feel inspired to help protect this extraordinary place.
The exhibition partnership is significant, highlighting Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea as the customary guardians of Aotea, whose whakapapa traces back to Toi and whose people welcomed Kupe into Rangitāwhiri (Tryphena Harbour).
The iwi acknowledged the success of the evening, stating, “Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped bring this kaupapa to life – another strong and positive step forward for our whānau.”
Jade Beazley, who attended the opening for the iwi, shared a brief clip of the event online, commenting, “What a wonderful evening e te whānau… A big thank you to all involved in making this event happen.”
‘Ngā Huhua: Abundance’ is located in the Edmiston Gallery, upstairs on level 2, at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. It opens to the public on Friday, November 7, and runs for the next nine months. Entry is free with museum admission.
