Marae Complete

Te Ao Hou, October 1956, Page 24

Marae Complete The culmination of over 4 years voluntary work in the construction of Tamatea-pokai-whenua, and Ihuparapara and Iwipupu under such auspicious circumstances augurs well for the future of Ngati Ranginui. The dreams of their departed elders;

The Judea meeting house project is only the first of several in which the people are helped by the Adult Education Service to recapture the art of carving and tukutuku making. The second project was at Bulls where several tribes collaborated in a carved and decorated meeting house. Mr and Mrs Toka were again the tutors. The photograph shows Mrs Lorna Tumu of Bulls hanging up strips of pingao which dry to a golden colour and are used for tukutuku panels. Before weaving could start, both pingao and kiekie had to be gathered and processed, an intricate operation of which the Foxton expert Mrs Reihana was in charge. Te Rohu Ranui, Ngatoko Rahipere, Winiata Piahana, the families of Te Hikuwai, Peri Kohu, Matiu Kohu, Karora Kohu—all of whom have gone beyond the veil—have now been fulfilled. Two links with the past and the dreams of the Ngati Ranginui elders are the two elderly ladies of Judea marae, Ngawhetu and Ngawaikaukau; these two fine ladies were mentioned as being responsible for the wonderful response of the Ngati Ranginui. Under the guidance of Maharaia Winiata (now Dr Maharaia Winiata) the families of the departed elders of Ngati Ranginui rallied to the call of their tribal leaders. Under the tuition and supervision of Henare Toka and his wife, Mere, the carving, decorative scroll work, and the weaving of the tukutuku panels was carried out to a triumphant conclusion. The completed marae project on Judea will be a striking monument to the skilful and artistic work of those young people; the names of most of them are recorded in the Souvenir Booklet.