HONGI'S HIKOI: A TRIO OF TRAVELLERS

Series of bicentennial commemorative events

Hongi's Hikoi: A Trio of Travellers

In 1820, Hongi Hika, Waikato and missionary Thomas Kendall travelled to England, each for their own reasons.

Whilst there, they assisted Prof Samuel Lee (a linguist) in compiling a Māori-English dictionary at Cambridge University.

The pair of chiefs were introduced to the Peerage in the House of Lords and were granted an audience with King George IV, and they exchanged gifts.

This series of bicentennial commemorative events and educational initiatives include:

A PhD-style thesis (2026) focusing on the meeting between Hongi Hika and King George IV, the practice of tuku or reciprocal gifting, a detailed list of the artefacts exchanged between the two leaders, and a detailed study of the kākahu or cloak that Hongi gifted the King.
An academic journal article titled Hongi Hika: A Portrait published in the Journal of Museum Ethnography No 32 (June 2019), pp. 209-224.
A set of bilingual historical storybooks titled Hongi's Hikoi: A Trio of Travellers (2022) targeted toward late primary and early secondary students,
A short film, also titled Hongi's Hikoi: A Trio of Travellers (2022) 17 mins duration,
A series of public presentations/lectures (2019-2025) across Aotearoa New Zealand/Australia/England and the USA, based on Hongi Hika's 1814, and 1820 journeys to Australia, and England with an exhibition of replica taonga representing gifts exchanged between King George IV and the two Māori rangatira.