Turangawaewae
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Turangawaewae Marae is the national marae of the Maori people of New Zealand. It is located in the town of Ngaruawahia in the Waikato region in the northwestern North Island. The present pa was built in 1921 and is the headquarters for the Kingitanga movement. It is the official residence and receptiion centre for the head of the Kingitanga - Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the current and 6th Maori Monarch.
The name Turangawaewae translates as meeting place, or, more poetically, as a place to stand. The entire complex was an initiative of the late Princess Te Puea, an aunt of the present Maori Queen. The marae's buildings include the carved Mahinarangi House, built in 1929. Next to Mahinarangi House is Turongo House, the Queen's official residence.
Mahinarangi was an East Coast "princess" who married Turongo, a Tainui chief, thus linking the two tribal regions for generations to come. It was this link that was highlighted by Sir Apirana Ngata when Te Puea was debating the name of the new house. Apirana through his own tribe, Ngati Porou, had provided thousands of pounds in financing through concerts of Te Pueas concert parties when it travelled the East Coast region. In addition to this he sent expert carvers and weavers to assist with the construction of the magnificent building that is standing today. To commemorate this he asked that the Whare nui would be named after the East Coast ancestress to salute the ancient link and the modern day koha Ngati Porou had provided.
The original use of Mahinarangi was to be a hospital of sorts for the Maori people so they could receive treatment in a tradtional manner. However the Ministry of Health would not grant the necessery permits for it to be used this way. Thus the building was made into a reception hall of sorts and has hosted many foreign dignatries. A visiting New Zealand Prime Minister commented at the conclusion of a visit with King Koroki that the house was a fine sitting room for a King. This comment gave Te Puea an idea, what use is a sitting room if there isn't a house to entertain visiting guests properly?
Thus Turongo house was borne. This esquisitely carved home was the brain child of Te Puea. Having noticed a home in Hamilton with a hexagonal tower in the corner she came up with a blueprint that incorporated both Maori and European architectural styles. The house interior and exterior surfaces have been carved exstensively and have incorporated many symbols important to the Kingitanga movement. There is a wonderful 7 sided tower in the corner representing the 7 initial waka that brought the Maori people to their new home - Aotearoa. It also has some unique features such as untreated pongo logs cladding on the exterior walls. There are also two Pataka (store house) that act as dormer windows on the roof that store important Taonga or treasures of the Kingitanga. Each one represents the Maori and European influence on the local people. The modern day house contains magnificent reception rooms, dining rooms and kitchens that are suitable for the Arikinui to host guests in a distinctly Maori fashion.
Some of Te Puea's main goals for the movement were to increase the mana or prestige of the Kingitanga and it's figurehead the Arikinui by the following:
1. Raising the standards of health, housing and employment of the people 2. Establish a national Marae complex at Ngaruawahia (Turangawaewae Marae) that would be a centre of Maori culture and politics, thus creating a strong sense of community, pride and more importantly - Mana amongst the Kingitanga.
Turangawaewae along with the Kingitanga movement and the office of the Arikinui has become a key institution to showcase Maoridom not only in New Zealand but the world. Countless world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II and many of her children have paid courtesy visits to Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu and the people of the Kingitanga. Under the ledership of Te Puea strong relationships had been established with other Polynesian Royal families such as the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. As a result, during the annual Koroneihana (coronation) festivities, representatives of the Polynesian royal houses including the much beloved Queen Salote of Tonga and many of her current descendents have made countless visits and gifted highly prized taonga to the Arikinui which are now housed in the dual Pataka of Turonga .
Turangawaewae and all of its unique buildings is a physical representation of the determination of the Kingitanga to not only survive the last 200 years of turmoil, but to prosper and flourish under the leadership of monumental leaders like Te Puea and Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
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