Hangi in a Parcel

Steamed Hangi Meals

Wrapped in the News of the Day

(Salt Provided)

Waitangi Day Celebrations

Christchurch Art Gallery

February 6, 2010.

A Portrait - 1

Watching the Crowd

Waitangi Day Celebrations

Christchurch Art Gallery

February 6, 2010

Maori Place Names - 49

Rapaki, Banks Peninsular

Canterbury, South Island

January 2010. Ajr

More From Waitangi Day

More shots from yesterday's Waitangi Day celebrations at Christchurch Art Gallery.

Hangi meals wrapped in newspaper made for a popular lunch. I liked the presentation - a kind of 'ethnic take' on traditional New Zealand fish and chips wrapped in newspaper.

Red Poi

Red Umbrellas

On a Very Hot Afternoon.

February 6, 2010

Waitangi Celebrations

I was disappointed that my plans to drive across to Onuku Marae at Akaroa on Banks Peninsular were thrown awry today. Instead, in between my hideous workload, I managed to get down to Christchurch Art Gallery to take in the celebrations there. I missed the powhiri (welcome) and I only got the tale end of the band, Hikoikoi but I saw a good part of the performance by the second act, The Mamaku Project. Their lead singer, Tui Mamaki, is shown below.

The sun had come out by then and it was baking hot but I was surprised by the small crowd. Last year's Waitangi Day celebrations here (which you can see if you click on Waitangi Day in the label line below this post), were patronised by a much larger crowd. Still, the two guys selling hangi meals in wrapped newspaper parcels were doing a roaring trade; and the cool jazz of the Mamaku Project went down a treat with all who stuck around. You can read more about the group, the band members, their national and international performances and their recordings by clicking on www.mamakuproject.com

Celebrating Waitangi Day

Today is a public holiday in New Zealand - designated such to celebrate Waitangi Day, which in turn celebrates the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi in 1840. That's an aerial view of the Waitangi National Trust grounds at Waitangi above. The bridge across the causeway links Waitangi to the nearby village of Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

The two photographs above are among the many I took when I visited Waitangi last April, while travelling New Zealand updating the travel guide Frommers New Zealand. They show two views of Te Tii Marae, which sits adjacent to the Waitangi National Trust grounds and is the focus of Waitangi Day celebrations. Thousands of people and politicians will be packed in here today - and if today is like any other Waitangi Day celebration, some controversey is bound to arise.

The flagpole in the Treaty Grounds
I meanwhile, will be attending the Ngai Tahu Waitangi Day celebrations, which are being held at Onuku Marae in Akaroa. The Governor General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand will be in attendance. I hope to bring you photographs from today's Akaroa event later today and tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Traditional Designs - 16

Cushions & Tikis

Ngai Tahu Hui-a-Tau

Colac Bay, Southland

November 2009 Ajr

One Carving, Two Views

Ohinemutu

Rotorua

May 2009 Ajr

More From the Pounamu Files

Traditional Designs

In Pounamu

A Market Sale

Maori Place Names - 48

Kaiapoi Railway Station

Kaiapoi, North of Christchurch

South Island

Taking Tea

I spent a lot of time wandering around Rotorua’s Government Gardens when I last visited the city during my 2009 Frommers New Zealand update in May. And for the first time, I peeked through the windows of Te Runanga Tea House.

Built in 1903 as a tea pavilion, Te Runanga was a popular meeting place in Rotorua for many years. It was a place to relax with friends and perhaps enjoy a drink of tea or mineral water – that is, until the Blue Baths tearooms opened in 1933. From then until its closure in 1991, Te Runanga served as a bowling pavilion. It was re-opened in 1993 after it had been extensively restored. www.rotoruanz.com

Reflecting on St Faiths

This is one of my favourite shots of St Faith's Church in the lakeside settlement of Ohinemutu at Rotorua. I've taken dozens of photographs of this are and you'll see plenty more by clicking on either St Faith's Church or Ohinemutu in the label line below this post. In fact, if you scroll down, you'll see I've written a number of successive Ohinemutu posts this week.

Church Glass

I'm a big fan of churches. From an architectural point of view, they're one of my regular photographic subjects and when it comes to Maori churches, there is so much more to be inspired by. One of the largest and most ornate is St Faith's Anglican Church on the banks of Lake Rotorua at Ohinemutu in Rotorua itself.

Te Hahio o Te Whakaporo

The Church of the Faith

I love that almost every available surface is decorasted - either carved, painted or woven; and that the windows are embellished with beautiful Maori designs.

One of the most distinctive features at St Faith's is the Galilee Chapel Window, which features a life-size figure of Christ wearing a kiwi feather korowai (cloak). The figure is sandblasted on plate glass and by virtue of its placement, it appears as though Christ is walking on the waters of Lake Rotorua behind the church.

Visiting Tarukenga

I was on my way to Rotorua – not far from it in fact – when I spotted the sign pointing to Tarukenga Marae, just off State Highway 5, northwest of Rotorua, near Ngongotaha. I didn’t have far to go. Just a few hundred metres down the short side road I came to the cluster of houses that makes up Tarukenga and there, sitting on the brow of hill, against a backdrop of flax bushes, was Tarukenga Marae.

As usual, there was no one about, although I did get the very distinct feeling that I was being watched as I got out of my car to take a couple of exterior photographs of the marae setting. It’s home to the Ngati Te Ngakau/Ngati Tura hapu of Te Arawa iwi and the beautifully embellished wharenui (meeting house) is Te Ngakau, the whare kai, Hinetai. www.tearawa.iwi.nz

Beside the Lake

The small Maori community of Ohinemutu at Rotorua, is one of my favourite Maori places. Nestled into a small hillock on the banks of Lake Rotorua, it's a place of mood, culture and geothermal activity - a fascinating combination that usually sees me spending hours there on any visit to Rotorua. Apart from the fistful of houses, the narrow streets and the magnificent St Faith's Church, you'll also find some stunning examples of Maori carving - these two shots taken at the beautiful wharenui (meeting house) that dominates the main marae complex. I've posted many shots taken at Ohinemutu - just click on the name in the label line below this post to see more. www.rotoruanz.com

From the Kete Files

Harakeke = Flax = Phormium tenax

This common plant (in NZ) was considered by early Maori, to be one of the most valuable non-food products in pre-European times. Maori identified and recognised numerous flax varieties, which they used to make different items. Aside from its use in the making of intricate korowai (cloaks), it was - and still is - most commonly used to weave kete (baskets or kits). The design, size and colour of a kete (and the material used; they are also woven from the leaves of cabbage tree and nikau palm) are as varied as the people making them. I love that about them - that variety and the way the express the individual weaver or artist. In fact, it's fair to say I have a thing about kete. For me they are riddled with connotations of domesticity, handcrafts, food, gathering - all the things I love; and I love photographing them whenever I come upon them. I snapped these ones at the Ngai Tahu Hui-a-Tau in Southland last November.

Books, Books and More Books

I’ve been collecting old books on matters Maori again. The first is A Dictionary of Maori Place Names by A.W.Reed and illustrated by James Berry. Published in 1961, it lists New Zealand place names and gives a concise meaning. Little ink sketches are a quirky addition. Tangata Whenua – The World of Maori is by D.M Stafford and was published by Reed in 1996. I guess in that regard it doesn’t really qualify as ‘old’ but it’s filled with good illustrations and some interesting facts. Last but least is a small boxed collection of leaflets on The Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document. Over 500 Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown signed the Treaty in 1840. The leaflets the story of the Treaty, it’s journey and timeline – an excellent backgrounder to a document that still colours the political and cultural climate of this country. www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz

Maori Place Names - 47

Whitianga Marae

East Cape, North Island

May 2009. Ajr

One Waka, One Lake

A Rare Sight

One Waka

(canoe)

Crossing the lake

Clearwater Estate, Christchurch

Traditional Designs - 15

Bags For Sale

At Kaiapoi Christmas Parade Day

December 2009. Ajr