Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae: Home of Mātaatua Wharenui

Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae will stand as a functional, living and universal cultural icon where traditional and contemporary practices are carried out.

Completion of the project will see the treasured Mātaatua Wharenui re-erected in Whakatane after well over a century away. Originally built in the 1870s, the house symbolized the pride, resilience and unity of a people severely weakened by the effects of colonization and resulting land confiscations.

Mātaatua was certainly one of the finest carved Māori houses of its time and demonstrated that, despite the unfathomable suffering they had endured, the creative spirit of Ngāti Awa was well and truly alive.

Mātaatua – The House That Came Home

Mātaatua was officially opened in 1875 and dedicated to Queen Victoria as an expression of goodwill from the people of Ngāti Awa. Not long after opening, the house was dismantled and uplifted by the New Zealand Government to be exhibited at the 1879 British Empire Exhibition in Sydney, Australia. From Australia the house was taken to London where it was visited by British monarchs King George V and Queen Mary.

The house returned to New Zealand in 1925 as part of the South Seas Exhibition and spent the next 71 years as a permanent exhibit at Otago Museum. A 1996 Waitangi Tribunal Special Deed of Settlement finally saw Mātaatua returned to Ngāti Awa. After so long away, Mātaatua was finally on the journey home.

The past 15 years have been focussed on restoring Mātaatua to its original majesty. As can be expected, a century of long ocean voyages, intercontinental passage and incorrect assembly had taken a considerable toll. Fresh carvings have been hewn under the guidance of late Ngati Awa master carver Te Hau o te Rangi Tutua who lead a team of talented artists from throughout the Mātaatua tribal region.

The Mātaatua Wharenui Visitor Experience

This is a rare opportunity.

Entering the heart of a living, modern Māori community, you will encounter the warmth and welcome of its people, Ngāti Awa. Their remarkable humility and quiet strength will leave a powerful impression on you – one you will never forget.

Once you are feeling ‘at home’ you will be welcomed to Mātaatua – one of New Zealand’s largest and most beautifully carved Māori houses.

If the carvings are remarkable, the house’s story is extraordinary.

Following the devastating impact of colonisation in the 1860s, Mātaatua was built as a symbolic and physical heart for a struggling Māori community.

But within 3 years the New Zealand Government spirited Mātaatua away and for over 120 years it was a centrepiece in some of the great International Exhibitions.

Now after years of grief, loss and long negotiations, Mātaatua is finally home. Once again it is a living symbol of resilience, strength and unity.

For Ngāti Awa to welcome you to their greatest treasure and share time with you is part of a long sought sense of redemption.

Through face-to-face encounters with descendents of the great chiefs and unforgettable digital technology, the extraordinary house lives.

Mātaatua Wharenui will officially open on the 17^thSeptember 2011 in Whakatane.

For further information, please contact:

William Stewart

Mauriora Marketing and PR Limited

Mobile: 021 220 8015

Email: Mauriora_marketing@xtra.co.nz

Photo credit: Kura Paul-Burke