A delegation from the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation was formally received by Her Majesty the Māori Queen at Tūrangawaewae Marae on Wednesday this week, marking a significant cultural exchange between Noongar and Māori leadership grounded in shared histories, protocol and aspirations for self-determination.
The visit forms part of a broader study tour examining Māori economic development and governance, including engagements with Waikato-Tainui and its commercial arm, Tainui Group Holdings. The formal welcome, known as a pōwhiri, placed cultural authority and ancestral connection at the centre of the exchange.
Tūrangawaewae Marae, on the banks of the Waikato River in Ngāruawāhia, is the official residence of the Māori monarch and the heart of the Kiingitanga movement. Established in the 1850s, the movement sought to unify Māori tribes and protect land and sovereignty during colonisation, and remains a central institution in Māori political and cultural life.
The marae hosts major annual gatherings, including the Koroneihana, which commemorates the coronation of the Māori monarch. Proceedings follow a structured process beginning with mourning and remembrance before shifting, after a shared meal, to dialogue about the future. The Whadjuk delegation participated in this process in accordance with tikanga, or Māori cultural protocol.
Following a cultural performance by Noongar dancers Ash Penfold, Honey Webb, Theo Kearing and Kaed Kearing, the delegation presented a booka, or kangaroo skin cloak, to the Queen.
Titled Wirin Across the Waters, the cloak was created on Noongar Country and symbolises connection between peoples separated by ocean but united through shared values of land stewardship, ancestry and cultural continuity. Designed by Ballardong Noongar artist Tamara Hayden, it features flowing pathways representing rivers and oceans, alongside spiritual guardians including the Wagyl, a central Noongar creation being. At its centre is a meeting place where two cultures come together to share knowledge and responsibility for future generations.
The presentation was led by Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation Chair Charne Hayden, supported by Deputy Chair Wayne Ryder and fellow delegates. Hayden and Ryder were honoured with seat at the Queen's head-table at a luncheon of more than 1,000 attendees, during proceedings. Ryder acknowledged the significance of the occasion and the responsibility of representing Noongar people internationally.
The exchange reflects a strengthening relationship between Whadjuk and Māori leadership, with both groups exploring opportunities for collaboration across economic development, governance and cultural exchange. Last year, the Māori Queen was welcomed to Perth by Noongar Leaders like many of her predecessors. This week's visit marks a continuation of four decades of warm and growing relations between Māori and Noongar communities.
For the Whadjuk delegation, the occasion offered a clear demonstration of how cultural authority, political leadership and economic strategy can be integrated within an Indigenous framework, reinforcing the potential for deeper partnerships across the region.
