One of Parewahawaha's two amo. Like all the carvings in the house, on opening day this one carried labels identifying the figures. The opening of the Parewahawaha meeting house at Bulls on Saturday 15 April climaxed almost twenty-two years of work. It was an exciting day, with hundreds making their way to the marae before dawn in buses, cars, and on foot. The sky was cloudless, and the scene was quite beautiful as the first rays of sunlight reached the meeting house, picking out the figure of Kupe at the top, Parewahawaha and her eight children on the centre pole, and the eight canoes on the barge boards. As several buses bringing elders from Waikato were delayed, Queen Te Atairangikaahu waited outside with her people, while members of the powhiri group practised their welcoming haka, and kept warm with action songs and dances. A spirit of expectation and goodwill prevailed amongst the people in the large crowd, and they were entertained by the dancing and amusing antics of some of the old people. The excitement increased as the Queen and her elders drew near the gate, and after the powhiri, the crowd listened and watched in silence as the karakia was chanted and the Waikato people moved slowly towards the house. A greeting was exchanged with a senior member of the Parewahawaha tribe who stood at the entrance, then the Queen and her elders stepped over the paepae and led the way into the house. Her people followed for the short service inside, and in Raungaiti the dining-room alongside. Mihimihi and breakfast in the large marquee followed, the day grew hotter, more people came, and at noon Mr R. E. Jack, Speaker of the House of Representatives, arrived at