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Gisborne visitors will be able to learn some of the history of Rongowhakaata through unique exhibitions at five local marae.
Rongowhakaata chief executive Alayna Watene says they are a prelude to what will be shown when the iwi takes over the paepae at the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa next year.
"It was decided that these stories first needed to be told at home – at the marae exhibitions, then in an installation at Tairawhiti Museum later this year so it is a way of starting this process at the flax roots level,” she says.
Te Papa holds the meeting house Te Hau ki Turanga, which the iwi wants returned.
Ms Watene says the iwi’s five marae – Whakato, Te Pahou, Manutuke, Te Kuri a Tuatai Marae and Ohako – each have their own stories.
The exhibition series is named after rangatira and carver, Raharuhi Rukupo, who directed the building of Te Hau Ki Turanga.
The exhibition at Whakato Marae, which includes significant korowai, ends today.
Pahou Marae has displays and activities until Saturday on Nga mata o Maruwhakatipuna: The Many Faces of Maru.
On Wednesday Manutuke Marae will seek to answer the question Who is Kaipoho?
Friday it's the turn of Te Kuri A Tuatai Marae, while on Saturday Ohako Marae looks at Our Tipuna, Our Awa.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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