Marae
A place of gathering that brings families, communities and tribes together, the marae is fundamental to Māori life and stands as the beating heart of our culture.
The marae is made up of a number of buildings and the wharenui (main meeting house) is the centre of it all
Video of Oakura Marae and surrounding area found here
Ōākura marae (also known as Okototua) is located in Ōākura, at the mouth of the Ōākura River. Its principal hapū are Ngāti Tairi and Ngā Mahanga (or Ngā Mahanga a Tairi) of the Taranaki iwi.
The wharenui is named Moana Kaurai; it replaced another named Te Mata Pu-o-te-wheke-Oakura. The marae connects ancestrally to the waka Kurahaupo.
The people who belong to a marae do not live there full time, but will come and stay during important occasions..like a funeral,wedding & family gatherings.
Intricate carvings across the marae tell the stories of the tribe to be preserved for future generations. Before the arrival of Europeans, Māori had no written language, so carving, weaving and performance were used to perpetuate history. These carving throughout the marae provide the tribe with sense of identity.
Daily life on the Marae
Traditionally, the day began early, with prayers and singing to worship the rising sun.
The daily life of the community was based around getting food, so most people spent their days in activities such as:
planting and tending crops in communal gardens
fishing or gathering seafood hunting moa, other birds or seals
Children and adults worked alongside each other, and chiefs worked together with their people.
Traditionally, the day began early, with prayers and singing to worship the rising sun.
The daily life of the community was based around getting food, so most people spent their days in activities such as:
planting and tending crops in communal gardens
fishing or gathering seafood hunting moa, other birds or seals
Children and adults worked alongside each other, and chiefs worked together with their people.
The first meal of the day was around mid-morning.
As the sun began to set, workers returned to the village and food was prepared and eaten together.
The rest of the evening was spent in games and conversation. Sometimes there were prayers to the setting sun.
As the sun began to set, workers returned to the village and food was prepared and eaten together.
The rest of the evening was spent in games and conversation. Sometimes there were prayers to the setting sun.
to go along with our life on marae..we built and painted a little marae
and painted little peg people
