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PIKITU MARAE

He aha te mea nui o te ao...

He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!1

Contents

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Site Overview

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Rationale

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Analysis

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Strategy

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References

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Site overview

Located near Putāruru in South Waikato, Pikitū Marae was constituted as a Maori Reservation in 1909 and is the Marae for Ngati Huri, it has strong links within the Waikato and to the Eastern Bay of Plenty regions. It is one of the three houses that form the house of Raukawa. Pikitū Marae forms the back of the spiritual ancestral house of Raukawa. The dawning facing house is placed on a gentle slope which is surrounded by rolling hills and pasture fields.

Ngati Huri wants to construct Papakāinga housing on their ancestral land which will allow their hapu to reside together as their ancestors did. The Marae is considered as the centre of the universe for the Ngati Huri iwi and their goal is to turn their concept of togetherness into a reality, where their iwi create stronger bonds with their kainga and together are the kaitiaki of their whenua.

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Rationale Papakāinga housing on Maori ancestral land creates a very deep spiritual connection with the ancestors and forefathers of the tribe. Therefore it cannot be treated like any ordinary housing development, the development must fulfil traditional Maori customs and be built in accordance with traditional Maori processes.

It is necessary to build the housing development in a traditional form as the objective of Papakāinga housing is to allow the tribes people to live on the same land and the same way, in a spiritual sense as their ancestors did. This will in turn create stronger bonds among the people, the land and their past.

Another major driver of this project is the concept of togetherness. For Ngati Huri the concept of “togetherness” is imbedded into their values. Having their people together on their ancestral land fulfils it perfectly henceforth the development must not feel separated or gated from the Marae which to the people of Ngati Huri resembles the centre of their universe.

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Analysis

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SLOPE

The slopes around the marae are generally between 15 degrees and under which is suitable for housing development. Landform that is over 15degrees should be rezoned as vegetation to minimize future impact of erosion. The Marae is placed on level land however its surrounding landscape is mostly rolling hills. Most of the slopes around the Marae are North-East facing slopes, which are suitable for development as they are exposed to more direct sunlight than opposite slopes and are therefore warmer for longer period of time creating warmer living conditions.

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Hydrology

Pikitu Marae is surrounded by a dense network of water ways fed by the Waikato River. This network is vital in creating a nourished environment. Is it also an essential part of daily life in rural communities. It can be used as a food source and for irrigation purposes.

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Archaeology

The Waikato is a major influence on the site and its surrounding. The story of the Maori mythical creature the “taniwha� being at every bend of the Waikato River as interpreted by Ngati Huri suggest that the taniwha would in fact be a chief who guarded a section of the river. This interpretation is also supported by the pa sites located along the edge of the Waikato River identifying them as places of settlement.

The Marae is also closely situated to a number a caves to the south that might have been used for burial purposes. These sites are sacred to Ngati Huri and are to be protected and undisturbed during and after any development undertaken within its surrounding.

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Land Cover

The common ground cover around the Marae is mostly open pastures with patches of native vegetation and most of the dense land cover is made up of exotic vegetation. One of the factors to consider is that open fields on rolling landscapes are prone to erosion which will be an issue when developing. Re-vegetation to create buffer zones and miniature native sanctuaries can reduce the environmental impact on the site due to the development and will also rejuvenate the ecology.

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Land use capability

Land use capability is based on assessment of soil, rock types, strictness of vegetation and erosion. The soils have been categorized into three types, best suited for agriculture, construction and non-arable land. These categorizes will assist in the placement of sites of development. The land around the Marae is a mixture of moderate to least productive land.

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Exclusion zones

This map is the result of analytical processes which highlights suitable areas of development. It is derived from excluding steep areas unsuitable for construction, high productive land, significant vegetation and southerly facing slopes. Suitable areas of development are on slopes less than 15 degrees, on low to moderately productive land as high productive land can be better used for agricultural purposes and are on northerly facing slopes to maximize solar energy.

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Strategy

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Methodology “To create a space which allows for interaction between culture and ecology within an environment that is thriving and sustainable” To achieve our goal the development of the Papakāinga housing has been divided into 3 stages.

Stage 1 Residential, this part of the project will only include the development of the residential dwellings which will be located closest to the Marae. The development of this stage occurring first is crucial as the demographics of the first residents outlined from the research undertaken suggest that the first residents are likely to be retired, elderly members of Ngati Huri.

Stage 2 Ecology, this stage is to turn Ngati Huri’s idea of having a self-sustainable community into a reality. This stage of the development will take place on highly productive land. The development’s main focus will be on creating facilities to support a productive landscape allowing Ngati Huri to be more independent and it can create opportunities to educate their young in the agricultural field.

Stage 3 Cultural, to reinforce the bond Ngati Huri already has with their ancestral land. This final stage of the development will create links between the Marae and Barnett’s reserve which is of great value to Ngati Huri.

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Stage 1

The dwellings constructed are mostly on north and east facing slopes and are to be either beside or behind the Marae. The fronts of the houses are to be facing the east, this orientation links with the belief of Pikitu Marae being part of the ancestral hose of Raukawa.

Initially there are 15 – 20 planned individual houses to be constructed on the northern and southern side of the Marae. The development should resemble communal living without any barriers to r reflect traditional Maori living arrangements.

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Stage 2

The mauri of the land should be protected and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations.

This stage focuses on the environmental impact the development will have on our site and creating counter measures to balance the effects.

Sustainable agricultural development can provide the hapu with their organic necessities and be used to further their agricultural knowledge. This will also promote interaction between people and the land.

The form of agriculture that best suits this strategy is to create a nursery. A nursery will allow for economic gain and environmental rejuvenation. It will also play a vital role in the final stage of the development.

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Stage 3

Barnett’s reserve is a site of high significance to Ngati Huri and to be able to link it to the Marae will only strengthen that connection. The final stage also includes the re-vegetation on the stream behind the Marae which flows to the reserve to create a green corridor of native plantings. Pathways can be incorporated within the corridor to ease access to the reserve. The stream/ green corridor will link all three stages of development as it will start at the area proposed for agricultural development flow behind the Marae, the residential stage and finish at Barnett’s reserve.

This corridor will promote economic gains as it will direct traffic to the nursery and it will also introduce Maori culture to its users.

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Summary

Pikitu Marae resembles the centre of the universe for Ngati Huri, it is their spiritual home. Having Papakainga housing on their ancestral land allows them to have a stronger connection with their past which will benefit the current and future generations. The rationale for the project highlighted three significant criteria’s, development to occur in accordance with Maori traditions, have the form of traditional living and to be well connected to fulfil the concept of togetherness.

The result from the integration of these principals and Maori values is a closely knit community that is self-sustaining and be able to have a strong connection with their past in modern times.

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References Marsh, W.M. (2005) Landscape Planning: Environmental Applications. 4th Edition.

John Wiley and Sons Inc: Michigan. [333.7317 MAR]

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