Conference Reception: Information for Participants

We are delighted to welcome you to the IIPC Web Archiving Conference 2018. As your hosts, it is our very great pleasure and responsibility to ensure that you are formally welcomed to New Zealand, Wellington and the National Library. This will be done in the form of a Mihi Whakatau, which is a formal Māori greeting and welcome.

Monday, 12 November 17:45-20:00

Timetable

1745: Assemble outside Molesworth Street entrance of National Library (pictured)
1800: Mihi Whakatau begins
1815: Sharing of food
2000: End of reception

Process

As manuhiri (guests), you will be called into the National Library from the assembly point outside the main entrance. This will be done by the kaikaranga (caller) of the tangata whenua (your hosts). This will be responded to by the kaikaranga of the manuhiri (the guests).

Once inside the Library, the IIPC Steering Committee will be seated opposite the NLNZ party. By doing this, we acknowledge their role of bringing you all to New Zealand. All other guests will stand behind the Steering Committee.

There will be a short speech and waiata (song) in Te Reo Māori (the Māori language) from the kaikōrero (speaker) of the welcoming party. This will be responded to on your behalf. After these interactions, Hansueli Locher (Steering Committee and National Library of Switzerland) will represent all guests and say a few words and sing his own waiata.

After these proceedings, we will share kai (food). This completes the welcome to New Zealand, Wellington, the National Library and the Conference. Visitors and hosts are now considered as one for the duration of your stay with us.

 

Tikanga Māori during conference

Throughout the conference you will see other ways in which we are incorporating Tikanga Māori (traditional Māori practices and protocols).  These include:
• Short mihi (greetings) in Te Reo Māori.
• A waiata tautoko (song of support) for each of our Keynote or Plenary speakers.
• A karakia (blessing) at the end of the conference to thank you for being with us and to wish you safe travels as you return home.