What on earth is Tuia 250 ke Tōtaranui all about??

Social Media Manager from Tuia 250 ki Tōtaranui

This year Aotearoa New Zealand will acknowledge 250 years since the first onshore encounters between Māori and Europeans, with a national commemoration called Tuia – Encounters 250 (Tuia 250).

It's about what brought us together, the challenges we face and how we will weave our cultures and values into a future we will be proud to leave for the next generation.

Tuia 250 encourages kōrero, debate and reflection, and enable a more balanced telling of our stories, so that we speak openly and respectfully about our histories.

We will also recognise the extraordinary voyaging traditions and cultures of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (the Pacific), and the feats of European explorers and the technology they developed. We are focusing on promoting the exceptional feats of European, Māori and Pacific voyagers.

• Supporting a stronger sense of national identity and cohesion in relation to our Dual Heritage / Shared Future

• Commemorating this pivotal moment in our nation’s history

• Reflecting our Dual Heritage, our First Encounters, who we are today, and consider how we navigate our future together

• Sharing the stories of our place in relation to Tuia - First Encounters 250