Joy and solemn ceremony brought an epic 136-year journey to an end this week when a treasured Māori wharenui or carved meeting house was reopened in its rightful New Zealand home.
The historic Mātaatua Wharenui was originally built by the local Māori tribe - at Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty - but had been away from its people since 1880.
One of the biggest carved meeting houses ever built, the wharenui has spent most of its life travelling the world and the homecoming is seen as one of the most significant Māori cultural happenings of modern times.
Local Māori described the wharenui’s opening as a joyous end to its separation from those who lovingly built it, and a celebration of the unifying role that it would play in the future of its people.
Symbol of strength The colossal 24-metre long, 12.5-metre wide and 7.5-metre high carved house was built by the Ngāti Awa tribe in the 1870s as a symbol of unity and inspiration.
In 1879, it was dismantled by the New Zealand government and shipped to a series of significant colonial exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, London and finally Dunedin.
Finally, under a government deed, the house was returned to Ngāti Awa, and the past 15 years has been spent restoring the badly damaged house to its original majesty.
Ancient ceremony Thousands of hours of labour came to fruition when the house was opened in a dawn ceremony last Saturday (17.09.2011) attended by Māori King Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki, Māori MP Te Ururoa Flavell and representatives from many of New Zealand’s Māori tribes.
A crowd of 3000 converged on Whakatane’s Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae to witness the historic moment.
Representatives from Hawaii and the Cook Island of Mauke were also present at the opening as recognition of the close relationship between Māori and the people of the Pacific Islands.
Ancient ritual The ancestral house was welcomed back with an ancient pre-dawn opening ritual that is rarely witnessed today.
Known as kawanga whare or Te Tai i Te Kawa, the ceremony was led by respected tohunga / Māori spiritual leaders or high priests.
This rare and ancient ritual is traditionally undertaken to lift the tapu or sacred spiritual restriction of a house so that it may be used socially in comfort and confidence.
The ceremony began before sunrise and involved two ruahine / respected women of rank, as well as a puhu / young girl who was cloaked in ceremonial dress and adorned with treasured ornaments.
After the ceremony, a hakari / ceremonial feast marked the beginning of celebrations which continued into the night with the inaugural Ngāti Awa Festival featuring talented Mataatua artists Maisey Rika, Ngātapa Black, Hoani Ranapia and Sydney hip-hop ensemble The Kumpnee.
Home to rest The wharenui’s final resting place is on the site where it was originally built - in a dramatic coastal setting with native bush clad backdrop, on the outskirts of Whakatane.
The huge meeting house is the central point in a complex that now incorporates modern dining and conference facilities, and will provide a Māori cultural tourism experience that local experts say is unlike anything currently available in New Zealand.
As well as hearing the fascinating story of the wharenui and learning the traditions and history of the tribe - all brought to life with the latest interactive digital technology - visitors will experience legendary Ngāti Awa hospitality and have the chance to meet local elders, descendants of the tribe’s great chiefs.
Background: Mātaatua Wharenui
Built in 1875 in Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty, by the Ngāti Awa tribe
The massive wharenui measures 24m / 79ft long by 12.5m / 41ft wide by 7.5m / 24ft high
Rare features include carvings of two sets of twins depicted on the two upright amo / supports on the front gable of the house
Originally dedicated to Queen Victoria as her New Zealand home-away-from-home
In 1880, the NZ government shipped the wharenui off-shore as an exhibition piece
The wharenui made appearances in Sydney, Melbourne and London
Back in New Zealand, it went on permanent display at the Otago Museum, in Dunedin - where it stayed for 70 years
After 15 years of restoration, the wharenui has reopened in its original Whakatane location
