A wharenui resembles the human body in structure, and usually represents a particular ancestor of the tribe.
What does a wharenui Symbolise?
Wharenui represent the ancestors and are made up of many parts to symbolise the human form. Many contain carvings and panels that show whakapapa (genealogy) of the iwi (tribe) and stories of the people and land.
What was the purpose of the meetinghouse in Maori culture?
A meeting house like this is the focal point of a marae, a sacred area where members of a Maori community gather for celebrations, funerals, and religious and political meetings.
Why are Maraes important to Māori?
The marae is sacred to the living, and is a memorial to the dead. For this reason, the marae must be entered in a reverent manner. The marae is socially integrative in the sense that it fosters identity, self-respect, pride and social control. The marae is also integrative in that all people are welcome as guests.What does the Māori meetinghouse symbolically represent?
Poverty Bay, New Zealand, Polynesia. Maori meeting houses symbolically represent an ancestor’s body. Carved freestanding you tokomanawa support the ridge beam, and pompous relief panels represent ancestors in frontal positions.
What does Atea mean in Māori?
Lastly, Atea, the universe, floated in space, divided by the difference of sex into Rangi and Papa, Heaven and Earth; and individual creations then began.
What do the carvings on a marae mean?
Carvings in a Marae It is seen as a place of belonging and as such has a significant importance within the community. … The tekoteko (carved figure) on the roof of the house represents the head, with the maihi (carved, sloping front boards) signifying the arms, held out ready to welcome visitors.
What is a WERO in a powhiri?
In modern day, when prestigious visitors enter the marae, a wero (challenge) is performed. A taki (challenge item) is placed before visitors. If picked up peacefully by a member of the visiting party, this signals their intent of peace.What does the Tekoteko represent?
What is a tekoteko? Tekoteko is a Māori language term for carved, human like figures crafted to represent ancient tribal ancestors who instil general protection and guardianship over the tribe.
Why are Maraes important?The marae (meeting grounds) is the focal point of Māori communities throughout New Zealand. … Māori people see their marae as tūrangawaewae – their place to stand and belong. Marae are used for meetings, celebrations, funerals, educational workshops and other important tribal events.
Article first time published onWho built the wharenui?
Ngāti Awa built the wharenui in 1875, under difficult circumstances. “The elders of the tribe had just come out of the raupatu (land confiscation) and things were not looking too bright for Ngāti Awa but they decided a statement needed to be made – that despite what had happened the iwi is still here.
What is the roof of a wharenui called?
Papatūānuku, the earth mother, is depicted as the floor, while the roof is depicted as Ranginui, the sky father.
What are the parts of a wharenui?
- Tekoteko (head)
- Maihi (arms)
- Amo (legs)
- Tāhuhu (backbone)
- Heke (ribs)
- Poutokomanawa (central heart post)
Why is the wharenui significant to Māori art and culture?
A wharenui resembles the human body in structure, and usually represents a particular ancestor of the tribe. The tekoteko (carved figure) on the roof top in front of the house represents the head, and the maihi (front barge boards) are the arms held out in welcome to visitors.
What is the national symbol of New Zealand?
The bird Kiwi is the national symbol and icon of New Zealand.
What does marae mean in Māori?
The marae (meeting grounds) is the focal point of Māori communities throughout New Zealand. A marae is a fenced-in complex of carved buildings and grounds that belongs to a particular iwi (tribe), hapū (sub tribe) or whānau (family). Māori people see their marae as tūrangawaewae – their place to stand and belong.
What do Poupou carvings symbolize?
A poupou is a wall panel located underneath the veranda of a Māori wharenui (meeting house). It is generally built to represent the spiritual connection between the tribe and their ancestors and thus each poupou is carved with emblems of the tohunga whakairo’s (carver’s) particular lineage.
Why do you take your shoes off in a marae?
While generally seen as a courtesy, the principle of removing one’s shoes is also a symbolic one. It represents the leaving of the dust of Tū Matauenga (God of War) outside so that it does not soil the house of Rongo (God of Peace).
What is the role of a Kaikaranga?
The kaikaranga is usually versed in the history of the tribe, whakatauki (proverbs), and metaphor. She conveys important information to all those present about the local tribe, the guests and other information about the purpose of the gathering.
What is Atea religion?
Atea is a Polynesian cosmological term that refers to the moment when it was believed that light first sparked forth after many eons of thick, engulfing darkness, resulting in the birth of the first generation of gods.
Who is Tūmatauenga?
Tūmatauenga, the main Māori god of war, is one of the sons of Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother). In tradition, Tūmatauenga sought to solve conflict by warfare and was the deity of humans.
What is a Kowhaiwhai pattern?
Kowhaiwhai are Māori motifs. They are a way to tell a story and each has a meaning. Kowhaiwhai patterns are traditionally painted in whare tipuna (meeting houses), pataka (storehouses), on the prow of a waka (canoe) or on many forms of carving such as boat paddles or water containers.
What are Māori carvings called?
Māori carvings in wood, bone, or stone have unique designs and special meanings. Rather than purely being decorative, whakairo (Māori carvings) each give a unique narrative.
What is a New Zealand Marae?
The marae (meeting grounds) is the focal point of Māori communities throughout New Zealand. … A marae incorporates a carved meeting house (wharenui) with an open space in front (marae ātea), a dining hall and cooking area, and a toilet and shower block.
Why is pōwhiri important?
Pōwhiri, the ceremony used to welcome visitors onto the marae, was traditionally a way of finding out whether people were friends or enemies.
What does Manaakitanga mean in NZ?
Manaakitanga is behaviour that acknowledges the mana of others as having equal or greater importance than one’s own, through the expression of aroha, hospitality, generosity and mutual respect.
What is the purpose of a Poroporoaki?
In its simplest form, the poroporoaki is a cry of sorrow and farewell given as someone comes on to that marae and calls a final salutation to the dead one. The funeral whaikōrero proper is more elaborate. It is a eulogy given by kaumātua to the dead person who is spoken to directly as though alive.
Is marae a sacred place?
A marae (in New Zealand Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Tahitian), malaʻe (in Tongan), meʻae (in Marquesan) or malae (in Samoan) is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies. In all these languages, the term also means cleared and free of weeds or trees.
What Matariki cluster star signifies death?
2. Pōhutukawa – is connected to the dead, and in particular those who have passed on from the world since the last heliacal rising of Matariki in the month of Pipiri.
What's the meaning of Whare?
Definition of whare 1 : a Maori hut or house. 2 New Zealand : a temporary or roughly built hut in the bush.
What is the entrance to a marae called?
Glossary. Waharoa – Gate way to the marae.
