Showplace of Tauranga

Te Ao Hou, October 1956, Page 25

Showplace of Tauranga It is certain the Judea marae as an assembly place will be one of the show places of the flourishing town of Tauranga. The history of the

In both the Judea and the Bulls projects there were few who had done Maori arts and crafts before so that knowledge was spread at the same time as the building was decorated. At Bulls, all the teaching was concentrated in five to six weeks; during this period all the carvings were finished and all but three of the tukutuku panels. The Bulls house, which is due to be opened next year, will be called Parewahawaha. One reason why the work on this project proceeded so fast was the use of modern builders' machinery, made available by Mr Taylor Brown of Bulls. In the photograph above, Mr Toka is showing Ned Laughton of Feilding the use of an electric saw to make the bevelled edge for the horizontal slabs in the tukutuku. building programme is an inspiring and fine example of co-operation between the Maori and the European people of the town and district. During the celebrations Dr Maharaia Winiata paid a tribute to the generosity of the Tauranga people and made a pleasing reference to the never failing help which was given freely by His Worship the Mayor of Tauranga, the trades-people and the citizens of the Borough. It was particularly pleasing to all those who were present to see the complete and fine understanding which was exemplified in the participation of both races during the festivities attending the ceremonial opening of “Tamatea-pokai-whenua” and “Iwipupu”. The Ngati Ranginui are deserving of every encouragement. The resurgence of tribal pride in the cultural aspirations of the race, and the fine achievement of completing community buildings of outstanding excellence on their ancestral marae reflects a moral fibre of remarkable resilience.