Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki Marae

  1. Home
  2.  » Category: "Te Aka Matua ki te Pou Hawaiki"

The name of the marae – Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki – acknowledges the history of the area.

Ancestors of the Tāmaki people brought soil with them from Hawaiki. It was buried on top of a hill which is now a part of Te Kura Akoranga o Tāmaki Makaurau.

This place was highly tapu (sacred) to the early Auckland tribes, especially the Waiohua people who lived on and around Maungawhau (Mt Eden). They came to Te Pou Hawaiki to perform their karakia (prayers) before beginning an expedition and again on their return. The tūāhu, or sacred altar, was located there.

In 1973 Mahuta Tuhura, a student at the Epsom Campus, promoted the idea of a marae. The idea was supported by staff and students within the Māori Studies Department and across campus. Tarutaru Rankin was the Head of Māori Studies at that time, and he was the main driver behind the project. Mark Klaricich was the main carver and on Saturday 19 November 1983, the wharenui – Tūtahi Tonu – was officially opened.

Te Kūaha

Te Kūaha

Te Kūaha is an educational resource for University of Auckland staff, students and alumni to learn basic te reo Māori and protocol. Also contains protocols specific to Epsom and Waipapa marae.

Wharenui showing the two sides (manuwhiri and tangata whenua) in different colours
Te Akoranga Kairangi

Te Akoranga Kairangi

This programme introduces University of Auckland staff to Māori language pronunciation and tikanga (customs), as well as a history of Māori-Pākehā relations. It is also an opportunity for open and safe discussion about how the university’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi affects workplace practice.