A NEW DAWN
Whanganui ro¯pu¯ celebrates marae opening
The new marae at Massey University's Wellington campus has a special connection with Whanganui Iwi. More than 400 people were up before dawn to attend the opening of Te Rau Karamu Marae on Pukeahu Campus on Saturday.
Nga¯ti Rangi leader Che Wilson said it was an honour to be a member of the Whanganui ro¯pu¯ invited to lead the karakia alongside Te A¯ tiawa representatives from Taranaki.
“It seems that there has been a very positive attitude shift in Wellington,” Wilson said.
“To see so many people arrive at dawn and view the early start as right and appropriate rather than an inconvenience.”
Whanganui and Te Atiawa ¯ tohunga and kauma¯tua led staff, students and guests in karakia, imbuing the marae with life and announcing its name Te Rau Karamu, with the wharenui being named Te Whaioranga o Te Whaiao.
Wilson said Te Rau Karamu “The Karamu Branch” focuses on the marae being a place of healing rejuvenation.
“It also links to Topine Te Mamaku [Nga¯ti Ha¯ua-te-rangi] of Taumarunui who also lived in Wellington for a time,” Wilson said.
“You now have a place where people can be inspired by t¯ıpuna wisdom and all the whakapapa that has been put here through art and see how modern technology can still share consistent stories that have been passed down for generations and generations.”
Two generations of artists — Whanganui-based Wi Taepa and his Wellington-based son Ngatai Taepa [Te Atiawa, Te Arawa] — have both made sizeable contributions to what Wilson describes as the “wowness” of Te Rau Karamu.
“Wi's work in clay at the front of the marae and Ngatai's work on the ceiling panels inside are beautiful and they provide that whakapapa — that knowledge that people can read,” Wilson said.
“Another contributing artist from our rohe is Maihi Potaka. He is Utiku Potaka's son and his work is beautiful as well. All the artists involved have done incredible work.''
Wilson said the time and
All the artists involved have done incredible work.
Nga¯ti Rangi leader Che Wilson
date of the opening of the marae are depicted in the moon phases on the ceiling panels inside the wharenui.
“We stayed overnight and it was a wonderful experience to lie underneath those panels.
“Even if the date and time of the opening were not recorded on paper, anyone can look at the ceiling and read it there.”
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson was among the first to be welcomed onto the marae later in the morning and he acknowledged the significance of Te Rau Karamu to Ma¯ori student success.
“It’s really important that we provide an environment that supports all students and I believe this marae will do that for Ma¯ ori students and others as well. It’s really important that there is a place to recognise that Te Tiriti relationship,” he said.
Te Rau Karamu Marae builds on the historic legacy of Te Kuratini Marae, established on Buckle St in 1977 as part of the Wellington Polytechnic.
The largely unheralded marae was a vital learning centre in the revitalisation of te reo Ma¯ori where language classes run by te reo Ma¯ori champions the late Huirangi Waikerepuru, Te Ariki Mei and others, supported and informed the culture of change within a range of institutions from the civil service through to the community in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The new marae, which can host guests overnight, will be mainly used for teaching and learning with Kaupapa Ma¯ori to the fore and the landscaping has been specifically designed with native species as part of the outdoor learning space.