Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua

Incorporated Society

²Whakapapa ² Mākirikiri Marae   ² Pepeha   ² Claims

Mākirikiri Marae

Aotea Meeting House

The first house called Aotea was built by Te Rangiwhakaewa at Tawakeroa, near Tahoraiti, about fourteen generations ago.

In the late 1870s, the Hāmua hapū decided to build a carved house at Te Oreore, near Masterton.  Two tohunga, Te Pōtangaroa and Te Kere, took charge of the work, but after a time they quarrelled and Te Kere withdrew in a dudgeon.  As he left he said to Te Potangaroa, “E kore tēnei whare e whakamutua i roto i ngā tau e waru.”  "This house will not be finished within eight years." 

Te Pōtangaroa took up this challenge and the work went ahead without delay.  The building was completed in one year and in derision it was named Ngā Tau e Waru, the eight years.

Aotea tuarua interior at Tahoraiti

In the meantime, the Ngāti Mutuahi hapū wished to build a carved house at Tahoraiti, so Te Kere took over the project.  The carvings for both houses were executed by Taepa of the Arawa tribe, Rotorua, with local assistance.  At Tahoraiti local men who assisted were Hare Pini and Ihaka Rautahi.  The scroll work on the rafters was done by Te Maewa of the Ngāti Tū hapū of Whanganui.  The tukutuku panels were done by Te Wē, also of Ngāti Tū, assisted by local people, including Mātene Rautahi.  The work commenced in 1880 and the building was completed in 1883.  According to Ranginui Rautahi the timber came from the first sawmill to operate in the Forty Mile Bush.  The house was named “Aotea”.

In the 1960s it was apparent that the old house was in a state of considerable disrepair.  The late Mr Lui Paewai with much help from the Dannevirke people organised the demolition of the building and its re-erection at Mākirikiri, closer to Dannevirke, where the greatest Māori population now lives.  The new building is smaller and the barge-boards were reduced in width because of damage.  Otherwise the original carvings are intact.

Aotea’s contemporary, Ngā Tau e Waru, at Te Oreore, was destroyed by fire some years ago.  It has been replaced by a smaller carved house with the same name.

Forty years ago......

During the 1950’s and 60’s our leaders had witnessed the migration of our people from their traditional hapū lands to the urban areas in search of work and wages. For us at home here in Tamaki nui a Rua it was no different. Our local Rangatira saddened by the aging and unused Aotea Meeting house at Tahoraiti, decided to dismantle the building and reassemble it closer to town where it may be better utilized and more accessible to the local hapū. After many hui, fundraising and much organizing, the day finally came where all their hard work and commitment to their dreams of incorporating both old and new to create a hapū base at Mākirikiri had arrived. On Saturday 17th June 1967 at a dawn ceremony, a Tainui contingent led by Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu advanced slowly across the marae. Humbled by her presence, our local Rangitāne people were privileged to have Te Atairangikaahu attend the opening of the new Aotea Tuatoru and Te Kurairirangi at Mākirikiri Marae.

Later that morning the Prime Minister of the day, Sir Keith Holyoake was also welcomed on and during his speech is recorded as having said:

“ It takes a lot of courage to overcome the emotional ties of the past and change to meet the demands of the modern age. We see here today evidence of the changing needs and culture of the Maori people. You have successfully merged parts of your traditional past with your modern community centre and facilities.”
 

The Ngāti Te Rangiwhakaewa flag was designed by students at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tamaki nui a Rua.

Puakiteao stands at the base of the flag pole.  Made of Oamaru Stone it was carved by Henare Matua Kani - Ngāti Parakiore, Ngā Ruahuihui.  Puakiteao was completed and dedicated in 2002.