Feet stomped on gravel and chants echoed during a rousing powhiri to welcome 22 United Nations delegates and indigenous people to Whangarei to mark the opening of the only indigenous centre in the Pacific.
The centre, based in Reyburn House Lane, is one of seven indigenous centres around the world and the only one in the Pacific.
The opening of the Pacific Indigenous and Local Knowledge Centre of Distinction yesterday afternoon involved representatives from 12 nations - including China, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Tui Shortland, director of the centre - which is run under the He Puna Marama Trust - said this was one of only seven indigenous centres in the world and the only one in the Pacific.
She said it was about increasing the value placed on indigenous knowledge - like carving, weaving and traditional Maori medicine - to bring it up to the same level of importance as Western knowledge.