Matariki celebrated with Unitec marae milestone

31 May 2007

Matariki celebrated with Unitec marae milestone

“Ka whakanuia i nga kaupapa rangatira o te Ao Māori”
(Unitec celebrates two significant cultural events of Māoridom)

A historic step in the development of Unitec New Zealand’s marae is being taken next week with the laying of the mauri stone.

A dawn ceremony is being held on the marae site at Unitec’s Mt Albert campus on Tuesday to acknowledge the mauri, or life force, of the marae, with the laying of the symbolic stone in the wharenui’s foundations.

Conducted by elders from Ngati Whatua, the ceremony will be attended by the marae’s builders, Unitec staff and students, and members of the Unitec Council and Runanga, as well as representatives from local iwi and the private trusts and foundations contributing to the marae’s construction.

Hare Paniora, Unitec’s Pae Arahi (a senior advisor), says that the ceremony acknowledges the spiritual intensity of the marae site. “The collective energy of all present is in the mauri, which is the spark of life. Stone is an ideal vessel to be imbued with the mauri of a thing and the laying of the stone means the marae will be alive, vibrant and strong for all activities that take place there in the future.

“The ceremony also marks the beginning of a state of tapu, meaning only those involved in the construction of the marae can step foot on the foundations until it is opened.”

Renowned artist and master carver Lyonel Grant (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa) and his small team have been working on the marae carvings for four years, using a mixture of traditional and modern methods.

Lyonel has previously carved the meeting houses Matapihi o te Rangi in Tokoroa and Ihenga in Rotorua.

Hare says that the setting of the mauri stone is an important step in the marae’s development and launches four days of Matariki celebrations and activities at Unitec. “This event is appropriate to Matariki – the Maori New Year – as it is a time of new beginnings.”

“Ka tīmata te horahia ake he pounamu marihi”
(The beginning of a precious taonga)

ENDS

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