TARANAKI MEETING HOUSE PRESERVES FAMOUS NAME

Te Ao Hou, August 1957, Page 39

TARANAKI MEETING HOUSE PRESERVES FAMOUS NAME The opening of the Taiporohenui meeting house near Hawera last May was attended by the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. E. B. Corbett, who made this the occasion for his farewell speech to the Maori people of Taranaki. The meeting house, named Whareroa, was dedicated by the Superintendent of the Methodist Maori mission, the Very Rev. G. Laurenson. It stands on the site of a formerly very important Taranaki meeting house on the Taiporohenui marae. The name Taiporohenui was originally given to a very large conference house—180 feet long—which was built in 1853 when the Maori King movement was first mooted. This building be came the first pillar of the movement; others being the beautifully carved storehouse (Pataka) at Wi Tako, Lower Hutt; another at Papawai, near Greytown, under the chief Potangaroa; and still another at Waihiki (Taradale) at the pa of Tareha There was another at Pukawa, Lake Taupo, the pa of Te Heuheu Iwikau. Three other meeting houses of the same name (Taiporohenui) have been built since the original one was destroyed by fire.

A Passion Play was presented by girls of St Joseph's College, Green-meadows, at the Easter festival arranged by the Federated Catholic Maori Clubs at Hastings last Easter. Above are some of the cast. With more than 1,000 people attending, and a great variety of religious, cultural and sports activities, this gathering, presided over by Mr Hikaia Amohia of Taumarunui, was a great success. (Russell Orr Photograph.) Notable overseas visitor with a special interest in Maori dancing was Miss Katherine Dunham seen here taking part in an action song performed by students of Auckland University College. Her tour this season revealed to many for the first time the great dancing traditions of South America and Africa. She took with her from New Zealand Mr and Mrs Kahu Karaitiana of Kaiapoi. He will sing and his wife will be a wardrobe mistress. (N.Z. Herald Photograph.)