October 21, 2022
Reopened Matangireia strengthens whakapapa links
Cabinet Minister Kiritapu Allen says the refurbishment of the old Māori affairs committee room preserves a piece of living heritage.
Matangireia was reopened this week with a ceremony which included mana whenua, the whanau of former Maori MPs and uri of the Te Arawa tohunga whakairo who carved the room 100 years ago at the direction of Eastern Maori MP Apirana Ngata.
Ms Allen says while it’s no longer used for select committee meetings, it is a vital link to whakapapa.
“It’s the first place I will take any kid with whakapapa Maori because one of their tipuna at come point in time as would have advocated for their people in that room so a beautiful bastion. I want to acknowledge the carvers from Te Arawa who came through and each of the families that came from the members of parliament that are hung on those walls. A beautiful, incredible space that we’re lucky to have,” she says.