Last Friday, our Deputy Head of Mission, Carolien Vis, had the honour of representing the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New Zealand at the annual Waitangi celebrations. She was warmly welcomed with a pōwhiri at Te Whare Rūnanga and joined the official commemorations at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Hosted by the Governor-General of New Zealand together with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the commemorations brought together iwi representatives, political leaders and invited guests at a site of profound historical and cultural significance. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds mark the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840, a foundational moment in New Zealand’s history that continues to shape the country today.

A longstanding and integral part of the official ceremonies are the ceremonial waka arrivals. For over 16 years, these have included the participation of the waka Te Hono ki Aotearoa (or, The Link to New Zealand) and its Dutch crew from Leiden University’s Royal Students’ Rowing Association ‘Njord’. This waka was ceremonially gifted in 2010, on permanent loan, to Wereldmuseum Leiden. It is the only waka taua in the Northern Hemisphere and symbolises the strong and enduring bonds between the Netherlands and Māori. Members of Njord serve as the caretakers of the waka. Each year, Dutch crew members travel to New Zealand to take part in the Waitangi Day waka pageant. 

The presence of Te Hono ki Aotearoa and its Dutch crew at Waitangi highlights how shared history continues to live through people-to-people connections, cultural respect and long-term partnership. Being present at these commemorations was an inspiring reminder that history is not only remembered, but actively carried forward.

A documentary “Te Hono ki Aotearoa” by Dutch Kiwi filmmaker Jan Bieringa was made about the commissioning, the making, and the handover of the ceremonial waka.