CENTENNIAL CANOE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 8

CENTENNIAL CANOE

HOUSING AT WAITANGI NOVEL DESIGN OF BUILDING [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday Preparations for the erection of a building to house the large Maori canoe which figured prominently in the Waitangi Centennial celebrations in February tire now being made by the Public Works Department. The canoe, divided into three sections, lies under temporary cover alongside the meeting-house near the Waitangi Treaty House. Finality as to the exact design of the new building has not yet been reached, but it will be in keeping with that of the meeting-house. The site chosen is among some trees on the seaward side. To accommodate the high carved bow and stern of the canoe the front and back of the building will be built with a. high roof, while the centre portion will be more in the nature of a covered way. with wire-netting sides and the roof just covering the canoe. It is proposed to use pungas for tho facades of the two end sections. The structure, including the ends, each 15ft. by 20ft., will he 130 ft. long. Authority for the work has not yet been received and in the - meantime the site is being cleared and prepared.

The craft, which is a war canoe, was built by the five northern Maori tribes, the Ngapuhi, To Rarawa, Aupouri, Ngati-kaliu and Ngati-what.ua, with the encouragement of Princess Te Tnea, and was named Nga-Toki-Matawhnorua. At the time of the Waitangi celebrations it was handed over to the Waitangi National Trust Board as a perpetual trust, subject to its being available for future celebrations.