A Waikato Favourite

This is one of my favourite photographs of Turangawaewae House in Ngaruawahia, near Hamilton in the Waikato region of the North Island. You can read more about the house and its history by clicking on Turangawaewae House in the label lines below. It sits just of the town's main street, on the opposite side of the river to Turangawaewae Marae.

A Northern Marae

 I was running late when I drove into Pahiatua last year but I did find two minutes to nip down a side road and take these three quick shots of Pahiatua Marae, on the outskirts of the small Manawatu town of Pahiatua.

At Koriniti Marae - Whanganui River Region

Koriniti Marae is nestled into a pretty hollow just above the Whanganui River. It's a lovely marae with a selection of fascinating buildings, including a cute-as-a-button church. I took these photographs llast time I visited the marae, in 2010.

The Whare Karakia - literally, the House of Prayers.

Carving Detail

Painted kowhaiwhai detail above the mahau (front porch) of one of the wharenui (meeting houses). Kowhaiwhai patterns vary from tribe to tribe (iwi to iwi) and many iwi have patterns that are unique to their area. Each pattern has a deep spiritual significance and is used to help illustrate the mana (power/status) of the house.

Gate Carving at the entrance to the marae complex

Kowhaiwhai Detail

Tekoteko detail on one of the wharenui. The tekoteko stands at the top of the house and represents the mana whenua of an iwi or hapu. It often represents a particular hapu or iwi ancestor.

Kowhaiwhai Detail

Visitors are welcome at Koriniti and you are able to take photographs of the exterior of the marae buildings. It pays to ring ahead though, so you don't arrive in the middle of a tangi (funeral) or some other marae event. http://www.koriniti.com/

Maori Place Names - 102

Waitotara

Taranaki, North Island

2010 Ajr

A Sense of Community

Like many Christchurch residents, Master Carver and Moko artist, Riki Manuel has been displaced by the earthquakes. He previously operated out of his own studio and gallery at the Christchurch Arts Centre but as that has now closed for several years for earthquake repairs, he has had to review his operation. He took the opportunity to relaunch his business at the recent Aranui AFFIRM Festival that was staged in December in Aranui.

The Aranui Community Trust staged its 10th AFFIRM Aranui Family Festival On Saturday December 3. It’s one of the biggest family festivals in Christchurch and this year, over 3,000 people turned up on a baking hot day, to take part in games and to watch a succession of stage events from local schools, culminating in  performances by world champion hip-hop artists, New Zealand’s Common Ground and headline act, hip hop-soul star Ladi 6, (Karoline Tamati), who grew up in Aranui and is just back from singing in Europe

It was a brilliant day of family fun, once again highlighting the fact that community spirit is alive and well in Aranui despite their earthquake hardships.

Even the police - often as heavily tattoed as the locals - joined in the community spirit, chatting with locals as they kept an oderly eye on proceedings.

Ladi6 was a resounding hit at the end of the day

The young made their own fun

And everyone did their best - by whatever means - to shelter from the heat of the day.