Ngāti Rārua settled within the rohe of Te Tauihu o Te Waka ā Māui and down through to the West Coast of the South Island in the mid 1820s. Tirīti o Waitangi was signed in Port Underwood on 17 June 1840.

Te Heke Whakangā tells the story of the Ngāti Rārua relationship with the Crown, and explores the impacts on the wellbeing of the iwi since that time.

Treaty breaches and the mamae (hurt) caused were presented to the Waitangi Tribunal over 20 years ago, with the Crown apologising through the Deed of Settlement in 2013.

Te Heke Whakangā honours those that have gone before us, shares the experiences they went through, and reflects on what is important to Ngāti Rārua. This exhibition, held during Matariki, explores and celebrates our past, as we move forward into the future. Image: Pukatea - where Ngāti Rārua first landed in Wairau. C. Ngati Rarua