The decision on where the next America’s Cup regatta will be held is in the hands of Team New Zealand chief Grant Dalton, but regardless of the choice made he’s got the backing of central Auckland-based iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Kaumātua Alec Hawke said that while they would love to see the race return to the Waitematā in Tāmaki Makaurau, they will support whatever Dalton decides.

Team New Zealand retained the America’s Cup when they defeated INEOS Britannia 7-2 in Barcelona, Spain. As holders, they get to choose where the next event is held.

“He's got the vision, and Ngāti Whātua sort of stands by him on those decisions. You know, if he makes the decisions that we go somewhere, we'll follow him to the hilt,” said Hawke.

The longstanding link between the iwi and the team is the reason for that viewpoint. Hawke has been attached to Team NZ on behalf of the iwi since an initial bond was first forged over three decades ago.

“It involved our leadership from [the] top down that used to just talk to the likes of [Michael] Fay, [David] Richwhite, Tā Hugh Kawharu, and Danny Tumahai. Then they decided they needed someone so they asked me if I could attach myself to Team NZ and I've been a sort of attaché to them ever since.”

Hawke admits it’s been a slow burn. But the strength of their bond has blossomed into a more meaningful relationship.

“We've got to know each other, and having a direct input with Dalts has been great because every step along the way he's had a vision and we've had a vision, and we've swapped stories.

“He wanted to name the wakas [sic] all Māori names, so we gave back five names, and we named them all. He wanted to have an imprint of Māori culture in the team, and we used to get the team up to the marae…[to] get together as a whānau – and they're one of the whānau.”

The racing boats are Te Aihe (The Dolphin), Te Kākahi (The Orca), land-yacht Horonuku (‘gliding swiftly across land), Te Rehutai (The Sea Spray) – which won the Cup in 2021 in Auckland – and Taihoro (‘to move swiftly as the sea between sky and earth’), which defended the Cup this year. They also named a test boat Te Kāhu (The Hawk).

Hawke said it was important to them that their relationship was seen on a world stage. He recalls a conversation with Dalton on how they needed to show “our Māori and our Pākehā culture to the world, to show them that New Zealand is a lovely place".

Enter the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain, where the relationship between the iwi and team was on display.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s 16-metre traditional waka tauā Te Kawau was shipped over to lead the team’s boat Taihoro out as a guard of honour for each race.

It was important that the waka was showcased, said Hawke, “because it shows our cultural history, and [Dalton] wanted to see Te Kawau lead with the latest technology in the world, you know".

"Our technology of over 400 years, leading the latest technology in the world, and that sort of set the pace.”

Te Kawau was carved from native kauri wood over a period of two years by master carver Hēmi Eruera. It was first launched at a special ceremony at Ōkahu Bay, Auckland, in June. According to the iwi’s website, it’s the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that Ngāti Whātua has had a ceremonial waka.

Its name comes from the native kawau (black cormorant/great cormorant) bird, known for its endurance and diving ability. It also means to be resilient, said Tarumai Kerehoma, who is part of the iwi delegation sent in support of Team NZ.

“And if you know Ngāti Whātua's history, you will see so many examples of resilience and perseverance in our story.”

In recognition to being the ‘iwi manaaki’ of Team NZ, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei was invited to send a delegation to travel over to Barcelona with the team.

The group included kaihoe, kaihaka, rangatahi and kaumātua taking part in cultural performances and activations around the city in promotion of Aotearoa, as well as providing the cultural and spiritual aspects – such as ceremonies and karakia – for the team.

“But for us here [in Spain],” said Kerehoma, “being mindful that we're not tangata whenua, we're not from here, so it was more out of respect".

"You know, be respectful to the people, to the land, to the seas.”

She said it was a privilege and an honour to have Te Kawau “on these shores”, and the locals have provided “top notch manaakitanga” since their arrival.

“We're a people that acknowledge, you know, we acknowledge mountains, rivers, people, identities, and we have been received with warmth from the people of this place.

“It was actually mind blowing because when INEOS became the challenger of Team NZ, mate, we had so much support. It was like the Barcelonian people, the Catalonian people were behind us, and not even just them, but also the Italians. So we've made good relationships with other nationalities and that's been amazing,” said Kerehoma.

“The Spanish people,” added Hawke, “you've got to shout out to them. They have been so welcoming.

“They've given us the protection through on the water, they've given us a protection off the water, they've just showed us so much hospitality that, you know, we've gotta invite them down there to give it back to them some way.”

So while there is the obvious benefit to having the America’s Cup race return to Aotearoa, and more specifically, Tāmaki Makaurau, Ngāti Whātua is well positioned to reap the rewards of either choice if their presence in Spain is an example of future ventures.

Hawke said that part of their strategy of accompanying Team NZ to the America’s Cup in Spain was to put Māori on the world stage in Europe.

“It's such a big trade area, we wanted to showcase Māoridom to say that, you know, not only Ngāti Whātua, [but] Tainui, Ngāpuhi, all of our tribal groups overseas can be showcased, and that's what we're doing it for, we're doing it to open up.

“And listen, this has been done before, OK, but in the context of the America's Cup, it couldn't be such a big, huge event to showcase our culture.”

kaumātua – elder

Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland

waka – canoe, boat, vehicle

waka taua – ceremonial war canoe

Te Aihe – The Dolphin

Te Kākahi – The Orca

Horonuku – ‘gliding swiftly across land’

Te Rehutai – The Sea Spray

Taihoro – ‘to move swiftly as the sea between sky and earth’

Te Kāhu – The Hawk

Te Kawau ki tai – Te Kawau at sea

Te Kawau – The Black Cormorant / The Great Cormorant

kaihoe – paddlers

kaihaka – haka performers

rangatahi – youth

kaumātua – elder(s/ly)

karakia – cultural incantations, ritual incantations, prayers

tangata whenua – indigenous people

manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness, support – highly valued Māori concept