November 26, 2014
Marae on Aotea celebrates Wai connections
A new marae opened on Aotea-Great Barrier at the weekend emphasises the links back to the mainland.
The whare has been 10 years in the making under the direction of tohunga whakairo Te Warihi Heteraka.
Kawa Marae spokesperson Carmen Heteraka says the opening drew more than 500 people, not just from Ngati Wai and Ngati Rehua but from other iwi who have found sanctuary on the island.
"All the rangatira of Ngati Paoa, Ngai Tai, Ngati Maru, Te Kawerau a Maki, all of us have that blood in us, but we’re known out there as Ngati Wai, which goes right up into Rakaumangamanga Cape Brett, and into Pewhairangi, Tapeka Point, all the way down the coast to Takahiwai Marsden Point. It’s a massive area so we were there to celebrate through that whare being opened all the connections to all the those tribes," Mr Hetaraka says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CARMEN HETARAKA CLICK ON THE LINK
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