Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre – will host a free, guided tour of some of Whakatāne’s historical and culturally significant landmarks to mark Māori Language Week. 

The fully-guided bus tour, which commences at Te Kōputu with a brief overview of local history, will travel around Whakatāne visiting sites of interest, with expert commentary provided by local guide William Stewart of NativConnectioNZ.

This is the second year the tour has been held, with last year’s event proving popular with the public. This year’s Māori Language Week – Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – is from 21 to 27 July, and Anneke Philps of Te Kōputu says the tour is a great way to celebrate it.

“This tour provides an opportunity to highlight the wonderful heritage sites we have right here in our own backyard,” Ms Philps says, “and it will also explain the significance of the various sites as well as the origins of their names.”

The tour will be held on Monday, 21 July 2014 and starts at 10:00 am; the bus returns to Te Kōputu at 12:00 pm. Please note that bookings are essential, as there are limited seats available. Contact Te Kōputu on 07 306 0509 to secure your place.