Arrernte Elders become guardian of Maori taonga at special ceremony at Alice Springs Airport

Closer ties have been formed between the Red Centre and Australia’s southern neighbour, in a ceremony one elder says had an ‘awesome’ ending. Find out more.

Australia’s southern neighbour has grown closer ties with the Northern Territory, leaving two important things under guardianship and also connecting culturally in a way one elder says “shook” them.

Representatives from Air New Zealand formally asked to enter Arrernte land at Alice Springs Airport on Monday, October 7, and were welcomed by elders Benedict Stevens and Rosalie Ngkwarraye Riley – the same day the last Air New Zealand aircraft arrived at the Alice Springs for maintenance.

Air New Zealand's Kiri Hannafin and Tupara Morrison hand over the taonga to Arrernte Elders Benedict Stevens and Rosalie Ngkwarraye Riley at Alice Springs Airport, October 7, 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The 10 Air New Zealand representatives were welcomed to country with a smoking ceremony by the Arrernte Elders, who also gave them a spear and shield.

Afterwards, the Air New Zealand representatives performed a Haka, which Mr Stevens said “shook my heart”.

“I’ve always seen it on TV, but seeing it live here … just shook me, just by hearing the sound and they sung it and did the action – awesome,” he said.

Mr Stevens said the spear and shield handed over were “very important” to the Arrernte people.

Air New Zealand's Hugh Pearce and Kiri Hannafin receive a spear and shield from Arrernte Elders Benedict Stevens and Rosalie Ngkwarraye Riley. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Air New Zealand sustainability and chief corporate affairs officer Kiri Hannifin said the purpose of the ceremony was to pay to respects to the elders for letting them park their planes at the airport.

“Because we’re parking planes in Alice Springs for a long time, we wanted to do two things,” she said.

“One is ask the permission of the people of this land and then express our appreciation for them for looking after our planes, our taonga.”

Air New Zealand's Thomas Tukiri and Arrernte Elder Rosalie Ngkwarraye Riley in a Hongi. Picture: Gera Kazakov

She said each plane had Maori taonga on its tail, which represented a hammerhead shark.

They also handed over another pounamu and harakeke, another taonga, which represents the New Zealand bush.

There are four Air New Zealand planes at Alice Springs airport, and Lhere Artepe assisted with the ceremony.