Maori Place Names - 55

Turangawaewae Marae,

Ngaruawahia, Near Hamilton

Central North Island

April 2009, Ajr

Entry Points

When I was travelling in the North Island in April-May 2009, I stopped at Ngaruawahia to see what I could, of Turangawaewae Marae. As the seat of the Maori King Movement (Te Kingitanga), it is perhaps the most important marae in all of New Zealand and while there is no general access, there is still plenty to see from the street. I spent a good while, wandering around the outside, completely in awe of the many stunning doorways and gates that give entry at various points around this huge complex. Both carved and painted, they punctuate the traditional fence/barricade that is adorned with many smaller carvings. You can read more about this fascinating marae and see more photographs by clicking on Turangawaewae Marae in the label line below this post.

Architectural Detail

Carved Highlights

Turangawaewae Marae

Ngaruawahia, Waikato

Click on Turangawaewae Marae in the label line below

To find out more about this important Waikato marae.

Making an Entrance

Another Stunning Carved Gate

Turangawaewae Marae

Ngaruawahia, Near Hamilton
April 2009 Ajr

Making an Entrance

Ngaruawahia, Waikato. April 2009. Ajr

A week or so ago, I worte a post about the spectacular Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, near Hamilton in the Waikato. (Click on Turangawaewae in the label line below this post to read a little about the Marae's history). I was SO impressed by the marae gates that I spent some time photographing them. You'll see the main ceremonial gate in my previous post. This is another entrance further along the complex. Every one of them a work of art!

Turangawaewae - A Place to Stand

Turangawaewae from across the Waikato River. April 2009 Ajr

I grew up in rural Waikato and whenever we drove through Ngaruawahia (near Hamilton), on our way north to Auckland, I was captivated by glimpses of Turangawaewae Marae on the banks of the Waikato River. Those were the days when Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu was leader of the Maori King Movement (Te Kingitanga) and for the childhood me, all that was riddled in romance and intrigue. I imagined her, sitting on a throne inside Turangawaewae, being friendly and benevolent. Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu died on August 15, 2006 and was succeeded by her eldest son, Tuheitia Paki. I drove through Ngaruawahia on my recent North Island travels and, for the first time in my life, I made a detour off the main highway to find the gates to Turangawaewae. There was never going to be any chance of going inside of course but that didn’t matter because the gates to the marae complex are stunningly beautiful and it was enough for me to stand in awe of that incredible craftsmanship.
Ngaruawahia April 2009. Ajr
Turangawaewae, which means a place to stand was established in the 1920s and 1930s under the leadership of Princess Te Puea Herangi, a granddaughter of King Tawhiao, the second Maori king. She gave new life to the Kingitanga Movement, helping it become a central force of the Tainui people of the Waikato region.

Ceremonial Gates, Turangawaewae. April 2009. Ajr
Today the marae complex sits on several acres and is an international showcase of Maoridom for visiting international dignitaries. Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British royal family have visited, as have the Tongan, Cook Islands and Samoan royal families, plus Nelson Mandela and many others. Like the fantastic gates and fences that surround the complex, the interior buildings are exquisite examples of traditional Maori craftsmanship. I wasn’t able to see much of course, but by craning my neck I did get glimpses – the most memorable glimpse being Turongo House, which I have since seen photographs of. I’ll write about that another time – it will be worth the wait I promise. In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy the beauty of these gates as much as I did. There are plenty more of those to come to.

Turangawaewae - An Historic House

Ngaruawahia, Waikato. April 2009. Ajr
I was deeply surprised when I came upon Turangawaewae House in centre of the little Waikato town of Ngaruawahia last month – surprised that, as a Waikato girl myself, I had never seen it before; and surprised for the startling combination of Pakeha architecture with Maori embellishment. Listed as a Historic Places Trust Category 1 property, it sits just off the main State Highway, surrounded by residential homes. It was built over a seven year period from 1912-1919 as a kauhanganui, or parliament building for the Maori King Movement, or Kingitanga Movement as it is also known. Kingitanga was founded in the 1850s and was made up of a federation of tribes who opposed the British and the growing spread of colonial settlement in the Waikato and beyond.

April 2009 Ajr
The building itself was designed by the Hamilton architectural firm, Warren and Blechynden, combining Maori and Pakeha design elements and cultural traditions. Broadly Arts and Crafts in architectural style, it includes a stunning painted door and handsome carvings by Te Motu Heta on the porch and gables – and let’s not forget the cute little guy holding up the chimney. The inside was (apparently, for I never saw) beautifully painted and featured a throne. The building though – as beautiful as it is – was rarely used for any parliamentary gatherings and by 1920, it became the meeting place for the planning of the much bigger, more traditional and even more elaborate Turangawaewae Marae, which was built on the other side of the Waikato River and eventually took over as the focus of Maori political and social activity in the region.

Ngaruawahia, Waikato. April 2009 Ajr
Turangawaewae House has since been used as a health clinic and as home to the Maori Land Court. I couldn’t quite establish if it has a current purpose beyond being a beautiful, historical reminder an important period of Maori history in New Zealand. PS. I loved the gates too. www.historic.org.nz