Waiata ki te wai - Songs for water - with Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Project

Waiata ki te wai
Songs for water

Wed 13 Nov 2018 // 12-1.15pm
211 Oxford Tce – on the banks of the Ōtākaro Avon River
A free public event with Yo-Yo Ma.

We sat together on the banks of the Ōtākaro Avon River in the centre of Ōtautahi Christchurch city to acknowledge the rivers of Waitaha Canterbury through song & weaving. While kairaranga wove harakeke, we sang waiata together, and listened to karakia, stories & music that celebrate this life-sustaining water that connects us all.

This was part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project in Christchurch, which explores how culture actively shapes a better future, and involves Yo-Yo performing with talented musicians and weavers of Ōtautahi.

Waiata ki te wai was conceived by artists Kerepeti Paraone (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hine) and Juliet Arnott of Rekindle, commissioned by Yo-Yo Ma and produced by Te Pūtahi – Christchurch centre for architecture and city-making in collaboration with Tier One events.

The event began with a karakia by Corban Te Aika (Ngāi Tahu), and then the adhan or call to prayer by leaders from the Mosque Al Noor. Then Corban told some of the pūrākau of the creation of this whenua land and awa river.

We were honoured to have Yo-Yo Ma performing alongside Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāitai), Aporonia Arahanga (Kāi Tahu, Te Arawa, Ngā Rauru), taonga pūoro played by Ruby Solly (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu), Aja Ropata (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou), Project Miere with Savanah Tukariri (Kai Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi) and Kerepeti Paraone, Tamara Smith with Chris Dabinet, Mike Story, Kuva Zakheim, Ricardo Stuani, and renowned artist Phil Dadson.