Tue, 8 Nov
7 pmThe Flight of Te Hookioi aka Two Māori in Vienna (Englisch)
Presentation of the film by Tearepa Kahi
Director Tearepa Kahi sheds light on the footsteps of two Māori chiefs, who in the 19th century travelled from New Zealand to Austria at the invitation of the emperor, where they were the toast of high society. This documentary retraces these men’s historic voyage and its impact on New Zealand.
More than 150 years ago, two men from Tainui - Wiremu Toetoe and Hemara Te Rerehau - took the trip of a lifetime on board the Novara, an Austrian scientific frigate and came to Austria. In Austria, they mingled with the high society such as Archduke Maximilian. Before they left Austria in 1860, Archduke Maximilian asked the pair what they would like as a parting gift, to which they answered, "a printing press and type”. Back to New Zealand in 1861 Wiremu started up the region's first newspaper Te Hookioi e Rere Atu Na (The Far-Flying Hookioi of New Zealand), a te reo newspaper promoting the Kingitanga movement (Māori King Movement).
This documentary is centred around Te Rerehau's handwritten journal, a unique window into the language, cultural understanding and social context between two Māori experiencing Europe in 1859-1860 and what happened to them when they returned to New Zealand.
Director & Screenplay: Tearepa Kahi
2009, Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Duration: 60 Min.
free (valid museum ticket required)
