Culture and heritage

 

As New Zealand’s major gateway, Auckland Airport has the responsibility of providing visitors with their first and last experience of our country. We take this responsibility seriously, wanting to ensure that those first and last experiences are a strong reflection of our unique New Zealand culture and heritage. Much of the new international new arrivals area features iconic and cultural New Zealand imagery reflecting the journey across the ocean. This imagery has been provided through a special partnership between Auckland Airport and the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.

www.airportmarae.co.nz

A unique website has been set up to support and promote Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa, the Auckland Airport Marae, to encourage awareness of the services provided by the Marae, and to stimulate interest in local history. Our Marae has a number of important purposes. In essence, it is to provide a cultural heart at the airport - a place to enhance and share Maori history with all visitors, both local and international. One of our Marae’s most important purposes is to provide a culturally sensitive venue for the collection of tupapaku (deceased) on their return to New Zealand. Other important purposes are to host official functions including welcoming and farewelling visiting dignitaries; to engage cultural and social activities; to provide educational programmes, and to contribute to the airport facilitation in emergency situations.

Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae at Auckland Airport celebrated Matariki, the marking of the New Year, on Wednesday, 18 June with an evening of cultural entertainment with special guests who provided music, dance, and kapa haka. The evening was attended by airport staff, tangatawhenua, sponsors and the wider airport community