Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand
  • Toi Tū Toi Ora Toi Māori
    • About Us
    • Our Trustees >
      • Trevor Maxwell CBE
      • Tracey Morgan
      • Ranui Ngarimu ONZM
      • Robert Gabel
      • Tā Derek Lardelli
      • Lady Rose Gould-Lardelli
      • James George
    • Committees >
      • Carving >
        • Māori Markings Tā Moko Exhibition
      • Music >
        • Pao Pao Pao History
      • Performing Arts
      • Tā Moko
      • Tikanga
      • Visual Arts
      • Waka >
        • Waitangi Waka Pageant
        • International Waka Paddlers
      • Weaving >
        • Kete >
          • TMA Kete 15
          • TMA Kete 10 & 11
          • TMA Kete 13 & 27
          • TMA Kete 2-6
      • Writing >
        • Te Hā Kaituhi Māori 2019
        • Te Whē - Bilingual Māori literature journal launches in Te Reo heartland
    • Ngā Tangata >
      • Tai Awatea >
        • Derek Lardelli
        • Kahui Whiritoi
        • Rangi Kipa
        • Anaru Irwin
        • Namaka Kerr
        • Sonia Snowden
        • Robert Gabel
      • Tai Ahiahi >
        • Waana Morrell Davis
        • Hekenukumai Busby
        • Hirini Melbourne
        • Emily Schuster
        • Rangikawehea Sinclair Paul
        • Saana Waitai Murray
  • Toi Māori Projects
    • MAI Programme
    • Te Hono ki Aotearoa >
      • Te Hono ki Aotearoa - 10th Anniversary
    • Hinemoana Waka >
      • Hinemoana Story
      • Hinemoana Waka History
      • Hinemoana Activities and Events
    • Annual Tribal Canoe Journeys >
      • Aotearoa To Canada: A Tribal Canoe Journey
    • Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore >
      • The Eternal Thread Tour
      • The Art of Māori Weaving Book
  • Toi Māori Gallery
    • 2018 >
      • He Timatanga Hou - A New Beginnings Exhibition
      • Kirihou - Hohua Thompshon Solo Exhibition
      • Words Remains - Ngā kupu ka mau tonu
      • Tūārangi Exhibition
    • 2020 >
      • Ara Mai Nuku
      • Te maramatanga aoao nui
    • 2021 >
      • Atā Tū
      • Toi o Taranaki ki te Tonga
      • Ngā Poopokorua a Rua
      • Whakakai
      • Tā Derek Lardelli Tū Takawhiti - 40 year Retrospective Exhibition
    • 2022 >
      • Whiriwhiria
      • 2022 Aotearoa Art Fair
  • Contact
Anaru Irwin
(Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Apakura)
Picture
Anaru Irwin with Dutch kaihoe, Leiden, The Netherlands 2010
Born in Ōtāhuhu in 1976, Anaru Irwin and his wife April (Ngāti Porou) moved from Manurewa to Hamilton where they have raised their two children, Manawa and Okeroa. ​

Anaru was introduced to waka through a chance meeting with Hoturoa Kerr, who recruited Anaru to paddle for Te Toki Waka Ama on the Waipa River at Whatawhata. Having recently retired from rugby league due to continuous injury, Anaru relished the opportunity to give his extra time to waka and quickly involved Manawa. Their combined dedication to training saw Anaru and Manawa chosen as kaihoe for Taheretikitiki, one of the premiere Tainui waka taua. Anaru described the memory of paddling with his son as an ‘experience he will cherish for the rest of his life.’ Now aged twenty, Manawa is a key kaihoe for Taheretikitiki and Te Toki Club, where he is training the next generation of paddlers. 
Te Hono ki Aotearoa
In 2009, Anaru was selected as a kaihoe for the first crew of Te Hono ki Aotearoa and travelled to Leiden, The Netherlands for the official handover of the waka to the Dutch in 2010.  
In preparation for the handover Te Hono ki Aotearoa kaihoe attended three wānanga lead by Chappie Harrison and Rutene Gabel. Their training included karakia, tikanga, haka and waiata and education in kaupapa waka, tikanga whakairo and kaitiakitanga. Due to the popularity of rugby and rugby league in Manurewa, this was Anaru’s first immersion in kapa haka and when he learned the haka ‘Ruaumoko,’ which was later performed at his wedding.  
In Leiden, Māori kaihoe trained with Njord Royal Rowing Club members selected as the Dutch kaihoe and entrusted as kaitiaki for the waka taua while in residence at the Museum Volkenkunde. Anaru developed strong bonds with the Dutch kaihoe and it is his dream to take his family to Leiden to experience life in the Netherlands and visit Te Hono ki Aotearoa and Tāhimana, the waka tētekura used for ongoing kaihoe training.  ​
Picture
​Centenary commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele, Menin Gate, Belgium, 2017. Anaru Irwin, second row, centre right. Photograph: fv@lastpost.be

​Anaru was also chosen as a Te Hono ki Aotearoa kaihoe for subsequent European events. This includes the 2012 Queens Diamond Jubilee on the River Thames, which was an experience that demonstrated to Anaru’s children ‘they can do anything.’ Then in 2017, Anaru was among a select group of Māori kaihoe to crew Te Hono ki Aotearoa with Dutch kaihoe at Menin Gate in Belgium marking the Centennial Commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele during World War One. 
 
Anaru also represented Māori on the 2013 North West Coast Canoe Journey ‘Paddle to Quinault’ (USA/CAN) at the invitation of the Grand Ronde.  

Committing to the responsibilities of Te Hono ki Aotearoa is a challenge for Anaru, not as a kaihoe but as a father. Fortunately, April supported his passion and love for waka and supports the family while Anaru was away. ​
Waka Training 
​Anaru continues to train all year round and during the summer he paddles four-six times a week with his waka ama team, who are currently training for the Waka Ama Nationals to qualify for the Worlds Competition in London. It is through waka ama training for short and long-distance competition that maintains his fitness, endurance, and stamina for waka taua.  
Future for Waka 
Anaru was pleased by the Prime Minister’s 2020 announcement that waka will be included in the New Zealand school curriculum.2 He explains that waka teaches life lessons, unites kaihoe and builds bonds as strong as brothers. ‘When waters are sometimes rough, everyone needs to work together to help the get through the rough water.’  

Anaru is proud and humbled to know that the efforts of his mentors such as Hoturoa Kerr, Hector Busby, Robert Gabel, and Tamahou Temara to revive waka had not gone to waste.  
Picture
Queen's Diamond Jubilee kaihoe training, Kirikiriroa 2012.
‘A short conversation with Hoturoa Kerr changed my life’ and while Hoturoa taught him many things, one statement sticks firmly in Anaru’s mind-- ‘always know who will take your seat.’  ​
Waka Journeys: 
Leiden 2010 
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012 
Canoe Journey 2013 
Passchendaele 2017 
 
Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Annual Tribal Canoe Journeys
Nga Waka

Social Media

Facebook
​Instagram
Twitter
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Donate here

Toi Māori aotearoa - Māori arts new zealand

Level 4, Change House,
150 Featherston Street,
​Wellington Central,
Wellington 6011
Aotearoa / New Zealand​
Office Hours:
​9am - 5pm Weekdays

Phone:   +64 4 801 7914
Fax:         +64 4 801 9412
Email:     admin@maoriart.org.nz
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Toi Māori is Supported by:

Picture
  • Toi Tū Toi Ora Toi Māori
    • About Us
    • Our Trustees >
      • Trevor Maxwell CBE
      • Tracey Morgan
      • Ranui Ngarimu ONZM
      • Robert Gabel
      • Tā Derek Lardelli
      • Lady Rose Gould-Lardelli
      • James George
    • Committees >
      • Carving >
        • Māori Markings Tā Moko Exhibition
      • Music >
        • Pao Pao Pao History
      • Performing Arts
      • Tā Moko
      • Tikanga
      • Visual Arts
      • Waka >
        • Waitangi Waka Pageant
        • International Waka Paddlers
      • Weaving >
        • Kete >
          • TMA Kete 15
          • TMA Kete 10 & 11
          • TMA Kete 13 & 27
          • TMA Kete 2-6
      • Writing >
        • Te Hā Kaituhi Māori 2019
        • Te Whē - Bilingual Māori literature journal launches in Te Reo heartland
    • Ngā Tangata >
      • Tai Awatea >
        • Derek Lardelli
        • Kahui Whiritoi
        • Rangi Kipa
        • Anaru Irwin
        • Namaka Kerr
        • Sonia Snowden
        • Robert Gabel
      • Tai Ahiahi >
        • Waana Morrell Davis
        • Hekenukumai Busby
        • Hirini Melbourne
        • Emily Schuster
        • Rangikawehea Sinclair Paul
        • Saana Waitai Murray
  • Toi Māori Projects
    • MAI Programme
    • Te Hono ki Aotearoa >
      • Te Hono ki Aotearoa - 10th Anniversary
    • Hinemoana Waka >
      • Hinemoana Story
      • Hinemoana Waka History
      • Hinemoana Activities and Events
    • Annual Tribal Canoe Journeys >
      • Aotearoa To Canada: A Tribal Canoe Journey
    • Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore >
      • The Eternal Thread Tour
      • The Art of Māori Weaving Book
  • Toi Māori Gallery
    • 2018 >
      • He Timatanga Hou - A New Beginnings Exhibition
      • Kirihou - Hohua Thompshon Solo Exhibition
      • Words Remains - Ngā kupu ka mau tonu
      • Tūārangi Exhibition
    • 2020 >
      • Ara Mai Nuku
      • Te maramatanga aoao nui
    • 2021 >
      • Atā Tū
      • Toi o Taranaki ki te Tonga
      • Ngā Poopokorua a Rua
      • Whakakai
      • Tā Derek Lardelli Tū Takawhiti - 40 year Retrospective Exhibition
    • 2022 >
      • Whiriwhiria
      • 2022 Aotearoa Art Fair
  • Contact