The University of Auckland’s Epsom-based marae has been put to sleep.
Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki Marae, and its wharenui Tūtahi Tonu, closed over the weekend in a special ceremony marking the end of a 40-year era.
Special parts of the wharenui, which include whakairo work, kōwhaiwhai and turapa, will be dismantled and shifted to the university's main campus in Auckland CBD.
Hundreds gathered at the site on Saturday, coinciding with its 40th anniversary celebrations. Among them, many tauira who went through the kura spoke on their memories of the whare.
Former Waipapa Taumata Rau student Bruce Taplin reflects on his time on campus when the wharenui first opened.
“Nā Tarutaru Rankin te whakaaro o tēnei whare. Ko tōna whakaaro kia whakatūwheratia tēnei whare kia haramai ngā kura ki te ako i ngā kōrero, i ngā pakiwaitara o ngāi tāua (It was Tarutaru Rankin who had the idea for this house. He thought of opening this house so that schools could learn about our [Māori] stories).”
Taplin has since become a facilitator for external research company UniService. He says the celebrations have been a great opportunity to reconnect with whānau associated with the marae.
“Ka kite ā-kanohi, ka hoki ngā mahara (You see the faces and memories just flood back).
“Tino hononga taku ki tēnei whare... Nā te whare nei ngā kaumātua pēnā i a Te Tarutaru i whakaako i ngā tikanga e hāngai ana ki a ngāi tāua, ki ngā āhuatanga pēnei ki te whare nei me ngā momo whakaritenga o te whare (I have a deep connection to this house... It was from our elders such as Te Tarutaru who taught us the customs; how the house should be run and set up),” Taplin said.
Carver Arekatera Maihi, who is assisting in the relocation of the whare, said it’s a special occasion in that his whānau have long been associated with the whare.
“I te tau 87-89, hoki mai au ki konei ki te taha o taku hoa, nānā i hia ana te uru mai ki tēnei kura. I haramai ki te tautoko i a ia (It was around the years 87-89, I came here with a friend of mine who wanted to get into the school. I came just for support).
“I kite au i taku aunty i roto rā... ka mea mai, ‘oh, kei te haramai hoki koe?’ I said, kāo (I saw my aunty there... she said, ‘oh, are you starting?’ I said, no),” he joked.
The new space is set to open in Matariki, alongside the publication of a new pukapuka showcasing special stories on the history of the wharenui.
Glossary
whakairo – carving
kōwhaiwhai - painted scroll ornamentation
turapa – ornamental lattice panels
tauira – student(s)
kura – school, learning centre
whare – house, building
wharenui – traditional meeting house
whānau – family
pukapuka - book
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