Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is open for business: the stars align

Coinciding with Matariki, the new education centre and marae at P˜kaha, Te Whare Taiao o Manukura, opened on 14 July 2023 with about 250 people in attendance, following a Rangit°ne dawn blessing and naming of the buildings the previous day.

Matariki is a celebration to mark the mid-winter rising of the cluster of stars sometimes called the Pleiades and heralding the M°ori New Year in Aotearoa. Traditionally, it’s been a time to acknowledge those who have passed and release their spirits to become stars. It’s also a time to re˛ ect, to be thankful to the gods for the harvest, to feast, and to share the bounty of the harvest with family (wh°nau) and friends.

“We are very excited to be able to open the doors of Te Whare Taiao for students and guests, and to do so at a time that is meaningful to Aotearoa,” says Emily Court General Manager, and a driving force behind the new centre at P˜kaha.

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is a magniÿ cent, custom-built, and future-looking environmental education centre, with accommodation for up to 32 students, separate rooms with ensuites for eight teachers and parents, a commercial kitchen, hangi pit, drying room, state of the art bathrooms, a carving workshop, room for motorhomes to stay for a couple of nights, and a wharenui (meeting house) and marae for Rangit°ne, which is able to sleep 50. There are even sets of cupboards to house the 50 mattresses.

“The opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura has the full backing of the Tararua District Council,” says Mayor of Tararua District Council, Tracey Collis “We were pleased to be able to support P˜kaha in making its vision a reality. P˜kaha is our largest tourist attraction and holds a special place in Aotearoa. It has continued to grow, and beneÿ ts not only our wildlife but also our people, through learning and experiencing the forest and all it provides.”