4 minute read
Te ngata te puku ki te awhiawhi i a tamawahine
Anaru White, Trustee for Owae Marae, shares how the transformation of Tamawahine dining room at Owae Marae was part of an initiative aimed at rejuvenating marae infrastructure while preserving intergenerational aspirations.
Reflecting on the legacy of previous trustees whose aspirations set the foundation for today’s efforts, Anaru recalls “It’s great to look back because a lot of what’s happened at Owae has been because of the generations before. As trustees, we’ve always been guided by those [ancestral] directives.”
“We are committed to keeping the aspirations of our tūpuna alive, and that was always around the upkeep of the marae. But it wasn’t until funding support from the provincial growth fund happened that we were able to make a start.”
The recent renovation projects have also become a focal point for re-engaging the community. Many of the volunteers/kaimahi involved with the marae span across generations of local whānau, who have always played a significant role in supporting and maintaining the marae so that it can host everything from tangihanga, to celebrations, Māui Pōmare weekend, and important tribal hui, such as PKW annual general meetings.
The initiatives included not only renovations but also constructing new facilities, supported by grants like the $22,000 from PKW, which Anaru highlights as crucial for their success.
“With this funding support we were also able to host the formalities around the opening of the new Tamawahine dining room building. These important gatherings enable us to involve younger generations, to ensure the transmission of knowledge and the continuation of cultural practises. PKW’s role, through scholarships and volunteer opportunities, is instrumental in this reengagement, nurturing a fertile ground for community leaders to emerge.”
Expertise from external organisations like the Māori Land Court is also pivotal. Anaru notes, “Their guidance helped us navigate through the complexities of environmental and regulatory mandates, ensuring our projects not only stand strong today but for generations to come.”
However, Anaru recognises that sustaining engagement with rangatahi remains a persistent challenge. He feels that informal kaupapa are key to keeping the flame alive. “We need to continually find ways to connect with our young people, making them feel a part of our journey.”
“PKW have demonstrated, and not solely through their funding, that they are supporting our marae because they also send us their kaimahi from their taiao team to help with some of the work around the grounds. Being seen to do the heavy lifting during those times definitely shows our rangatahi that there is a natural fit with the kaupapa of PKW and ours”.
This history of PKW’s support for local hapū initiatives around emerging issues that the trustees and marae community see as important suggest a promising horizon for collaborative ventures. “The potential for future partnerships is vast and can significantly amplify our efforts in community and environmental initiatives,” says Anaru.
The present renovations of the carvings for Te Ikaroa ā Maui has enabled some of the different generations to be involved in its ongoing preservation.
Anaru recognises that relying on key people with the knowledge and expertise they make readily available is not sustainable without a plan to encourage rangatahi to be more actively involved.
“These renovations and the active participation of our rangatahi are not just about maintaining physical structures. Our collaboration with PKW and their taiao team demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainability and cultural heritage. Looking ahead, we envision these partnerships to grow stronger, and to empower our community to uphold the legacy left by our tūpuna.”
