He Iwi Tahi Tātou was commissioned by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's landing in Aotearoa New Zealand and, more specifically, Governor William Hobson's greeting to the Māori chiefs as they came forward to sign the Treaty of Waitangi – "He Iwi Tahi Tātou" ("We are all one people").
In 250 years New Zealand has grown as a nation where two very different cultures have, over time, come together – not just through obligation but by a gradual understanding of each other, to embrace, mix and bind, despite tensions and difficulties along the way.
He Iwi Tahi Tātou is somewhat less complicated in its politics. It is simply a celebration of the vibrant culture that we live in – the good and bad, the ups and downs – but above all the unique cultural diversity and energy that makes this country what it is.
