Kaitiakitanga on the world stage – Stuff

When New Zealand's haka was performed on the Hollywood red carpet at the 2018 premiere of Aquaman, a YouTube video of the performance amassed almost nine million views. Of course, the haka is also displayed by the mighty All Blacks before each game and is by now widely synonymous with the world's most successful rugby team as well as New Zealand's traditional Mori culture.

It was Aquaman star Jason Momoa who performed New Zealand's indigenous war dance alongside renowned Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison, who plays his father in the film, as a nod to subtle Mori influences underpinning the movie's plot, from the way Momoa's character wields his trident, echoing the warrior taiaha in Mori culture, to colloquial phrases such as "ana tokai" meaning "take that!".

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Themed kaitiakitanga, the New Zealand pavilion was designed to be an immersive experience that conveyed our 'Care for People and Place' and was inspired by the Whanganui River.

Expo 2020 Dubai presented New Zealand with an opportunity to elevate and expand this indigenous narrative onto a global stage, allowing people to connect at a deeper level to the culture and values of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Themed kaitiakitanga, the New Zealand pavilion was designed to be an immersive experience that conveyed our 'Care for People and Place'. Inspired by the Whanganui River, which became the world's first river to be recognised as a legal person in 2017, called Te Awa Tupua, kaitiakitanga represents the Mori philosophy of our deep connection to the natural environment. This kaitiakitanga was evident across the broad range of programmes, youth involvement, speakers and cultural events including Kahurangi Mori Dance Theatre, Ngti Rnana London Mori Club, and Dubai-based kapa haka group Ngti Koraha.

Unrivalled in its scale, duration and visitor numbers, and designed to celebrate the achievements of nations, each Expo represents the world's largest gathering of commerce, culture and industry. Opening one year later than planned due to Covid-19, Expo 2020 hosted 192 participating countries and 24 million visitors from October 2021-March 2022. The New Zealand pavilion's 143 staff included a mix of locally-hired employees, six staff seconded from New Zealand plus 15 young Kiwi ambassadors, chefs and matre d's.

Inspirational Kiwi speakers and key business leaders invited to speak at Expo 2020 Dubai included Young New Zealander of the Year 2017 and lawyer Rez Gardi, who captivated the audience at ChangemakeHER to mark this year's International Women's Day on March 8, while top chef Sid Sahrawat, MasterChef NZ winners Kasey and Krena Bird, and Dubai-based New Zealand chef Jesse Blake delighted food lovers over three weeks of Taste New Zealand in January.

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Whanganui iwi leader Gerrard Albert blesses a toka (boulder) from Mt Tongariro, the source of the Whanganui River, in the Aotearoa New Zealand pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Chair ofWhanganui iwi, Gerrard Albert was a keynote speaker on two world environmental panels: "Our Aotearoa pavilion showed that indigenous knowledge is good for the nation and for the world. Our story showed our capacity to connect with people, share ideas and innovate as part of a global community."

Describing New Zealand's 150 year-long iwi-led battle to award Whanganui River legal status as "a ground-breaking paradigm shift", Albert highlights a misconception about the World Expo as being simply about trade: "By far the greater focus of Expo 2020 Dubai was on connection."

Working with Whanganui iwi, NZTE and Haumi Design to create the Expo pavilion, Jasmax design manager and architect Sarah Delamore set out to create an eight-minute visitor experience that conveyed the essence of kaitiakitanga, without language, and showcased New Zealand innovation.

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Jasmax design manager and architect Sarah Delamore set out to create an eight-minute visitor experience that conveyed the essence of kaitiakitanga, and also helped to design the NZ pavilions dynamic faade.

Leading a global team from Auckland across five countries, Jasmax collaborated with Kaynemaile to design the pavilion's dynamic faade, made from a double layer of black rippling polycarbonate mesh.

"It was designed to pulse with a life force emanating from a mauri stone from the Whanganui River within," Delamore says. "Visitors were invited to consider that humanity's wellbeing is innately connected with nature. The design raises global awareness of a powerful approach to sustainability.

"The overall design combined interactive digital technologies, sound, water, light, kinetic movement, and vibration to create a visceral sense of connection to nature. The immersive river room is where visitors are first introduced to the physical representation of Te Awa Tupua. In this darkened space, sheets of waterfall nine metres from the ceiling to the floor, creating a space for contemplation."

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Chefs Michael Lopesi, Rakesh Pillai, Sid Sahrawat, Laura-Jane Muller and Esther Olatunbosun were some of the Chefs representing New Zealand at Dubai Expo 2020.

Lead creative Karl Johnstone refined the New Zealand pavilion experience. "Kaitiakitanga was demonstrated emotively in the river room and kai, through [restaurant] Tiaki, is a demonstration of the hua or fruits of the natural world. The underpinning idea is that 'if nature thrives, we thrive'.

"Everything we did was referenced back to 'Care for People and Place'. While the lens was unapologetically Mori, the messages and ethos were universal. Through the iwi, we were able to tell a unique history. The enduring outcomes rest in the less tangible aspects of partnership and potential."

Recognised in three categories at the EXHIBITOR Magazine World Expo Awards, the Aotearoa New Zealand pavilion's Tiaki also took home a 'highly commended' award for favourite Expo restaurant at this year's What's On Awards Dubai the region's coveted hospitality honours.

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One of several Kapa Haka groups the performed at Dubai Expo 2020.

Expo 2020 Dubai was the first to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region; it was also the first to be hosted by an Arab nation. The first World Expo The Great Exhibition was held in London in 1851. Held five-yearly, the next will take place in Osaka, Japan from April-October 2025.

To find out more about New Zealand's participation at Expo 2020 Dubai, visit New Zealand at Expo 2020 Dubai - Care for People and Place.

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Kaitiakitanga on the world stage - Stuff