Ancestors needed for Te Aute house

Tu Tangata, Issue 18, 1 June 1984, Page 34

Ancestors needed for Te Aute house

Te Aute College has started plans on a new carved meeting house at the school in Hawke’s Bay. It’ll replace the old school assembly hall, and work’s expected to start within the next twelve months.

The main carvings for the interior of the new house will be those from the present hall, carved by Pine and John Taiapa from the Rotorua School of Carving in the 19205. However more carvings are needed. In particular, nine new poupou for the meeting house porch as well as pare, maihi and amo.

Tribal ancestors already represented are Taraia, Te Huki, Kahungunu, Whatu-i-Apiti, Turongo, Rongokako, Tuwharetoa, Turi, Rongorongo, Rongowhakata, Ruapani,

Toroa, Tuhoe-Potiki, Porourangi, Hinematioro, Tahu-Potiki, Raukawa, Puhi-Kai-Ariki Tama te Kapua. One further poupou in the present hall, Manaia, depicts a form common to all tribes, and was set up to stand for all the other tribal areas not formally represented. Since the college draws pupils from every corner of the country, it would like many more tribal ancestors to be included in the new carvings. That’s why it’s now asking people in other tribal areas to assist with ancestors’ names, tribal histories, or suggestions about the forms to be depicted. Te Aute Meeting House Committee

spokesman, John Hovell says new poupou could be carved in home areas but the college will need to be contacted for information about dimensions and other details.