HomeExpo 2020 DubaiThe New Zealand Pavilion is inspired by the Maori value of ‘kaitiakitanga’

The New Zealand Pavilion is inspired by the Maori value of ‘kaitiakitanga’

follow us on Google News

The New Zealand Pavilion has conducted a traditional dawn ritual to dedicate the pavilion’s ‘mauri’, or life-force, the central part of the pavilion’s visitor experience, one day before the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion
Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Expo 2020 Dubai)

The ceremony, performed by Whanganui Iwi tribal members who travelled from New Zealand, began outside the pavilion with the blowing of the conch shell, followed by calls of acknowledgement of interconnectedness with the natural and spiritual realms.

Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion
Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Expo 2020 Dubai)

There were chants and incantations throughout the exhibition space, as the group walked from room to room. Lending a local touch to the ceremony, Emirati cultural troupes welcomed New Zealand to Expo 2020.

The New Zealand Pavilion is inspired by the Maori value of ‘kaitiakitanga’, which celebrates the kinship between life, people and the environment.

Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion
Dawn Ceremony at the New Zealand Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Expo 2020 Dubai)
Julie Nguyen
Julie Nguyen
Julie is the visionary founder of SNAP TASTE and a dynamic force in global storytelling, innovation and creative leadership. She is a respected member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and serves as a judge for the CES Innovation Awards (2024, 2025 and 2026), where she contributes thought leadership on the intersections of business, culture and breakthrough technologies. As Managing Director, she also oversees the Fine Art, Digital Art, Portfolios and Marketing departments, ensuring the brand’s strategic vision and creative direction are realized across disciplines. Her immersive reporting has brought audiences behind the scenes of global milestones such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai, CES, D23 Expo, and the Milano Monza Motor Show, offering exclusive access to moments that define contemporary culture. An accomplished film critic and editorial voice, Julie is also recognized for her compelling reviews of National Geographic documentaries and other cinematic works. Her ability to combine analytical depth with narrative finesse inspires audiences seeking intelligent, meaningful, and globally relevant content. With a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges art, technology, and culture, Julie continues to shape the dialogue on how storytelling and innovation converge to influence the way we experience the world.
Ad

Leave a Reply

More to Explore

Syria Pavilion opens a window to a rich civilization that contributed to laying the foundations that connect our contemporary world

Syria was home to a series of firsts: the first crop, the first alphabet, the first musical note and the first poem.

Slovakia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has unveiled the country’s first hydrogen car

Located in the heart of the Mobility District, the theme of the Slovakia Pavilion is ‘Movement of the Future: Hydrogen, Aviation and Space’.

Every month throughout Expo 2020, a region of France will be represented by one of the six guest chefs

To end on a sweet note, the France Pavilion will also be showcasing an exclusive dessert “Le Gustave” conceptualized

Expo 2020 Dubai launches Space Week this Saturday

Stops on the journey include Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, which features the UAE space programme’s Mission Control, as well as space explorations

Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has launched its monthly film nights

The rainforest-filled Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai launched the first of its monthly film nights

Russia Pavilion: culture, art, media, technologies and innovation

Russia: Culture hosted a variety of representatives across Russian culture, art, media, technologies and innovation, including Azariy Plisetskiy,

Spain Pavilion brings medieval music to Expo 2020 with two live performances

There will be two performances open to the public: one on Wednesday 13 October at the Sun Stage

Azerbaijan harvests local ingredients to create sustainable culinary journeys at Expo 2020 Dubai

The 15 dishes on the menu being presented at the Azerbaijan Pavilion include ingredients such as Caucasus Mountain chestnuts

Thomas Jefferson’s 1764 copy of the Holy Quran has arrived at the USA Pavilion

Thomas Jefferson’s 1764 copy of the Holy Quran, one of the treasures of the Library of Congress in Washington DC, has arrived at

Turkmenistan celebrates its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai

Turkmenistan celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 on Saturday with a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza,

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows display at Expo 2020 Dubai

The team consists of 11 pilots, nine of whom fly in the display, and more than 100 support personnel and technicians.

Drones, robots, 3-D printing, and Formula One-style car building were featured at the UK Pavilion

Pilots and engineers of the future have been inspired by an interactive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event

Handpicked for You

You Might Also Like