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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 18. 26th July 1973

A Marae On Campus Need for Maori Studies

A Marae On Campus Need for Maori Studies

The essential role of the Marae in the preservation and propogation of things Maori has never been appreciated by Pake- has either at national or local level. Consequently the provision of Maraes in urban areas has been much neglected. In an effort to bring this situation to students notice Te Reo Maori Society is pressing hard for a Marae on campus and a field headquarters at Tikitiki East Coast. The following information on these developments is taken from a proposal currently being circulated by the Society and Koro Dewes, Senior Lecturer in Maori at VUW.

A Marae on this campus is proposed for educational, social and research purposes, and to reciprocate visits made by staff and students on Maori marae. An old house could be used in the initial stages: handy enough for lectures, seminars, demonstrations and practice of protocol, Te Reo Maori and Manaaki meetings; a large kitchen—dining room, a hall, toilet facilities, and an outdoor area with some privacy; eating and sleeping gear.

Marae-cum-field stations in selected regional Maori areas should also be anticipated. Kaiwaka Marae, 100 miles north of Gisbourne, has been offered by a Ngati Porou group to VUW and other educational institutions. Kaiwaka which could be independent of other Maraes, and so continual visits would not be a burden on the local people's hospitality and custom. Its amenities need upgrading and gear is needed.

Money is urgently needed, as are ideas for amenities and donations of gear.

A Campus Marae

In terms of here-and now and long term planning, a campus Marae is seen as being as necessary to the Maori courses, education and cultural activites generally, in the same way as the VUW Memorial Theatre services Drama Studies, commercial dramatic works, films, lectures and other sectors of the university and the community; this theatre is one of the best equipped and serviced in NZ.

A campus Marae on a practical plane should provide opportunities for students and staff to practise, study and observe Marae protocol, the arts of the orator and story-teller. That is the aims of oral proficiency and oral performance can be fulfilled far more adequately than at present. The University would be in a position to minimise embarrassment of staff and students who have been extended hospitality by Maori Marae in their field excursions. I have heard the cry of exploitation from some Maori leaders because of the lack of feed-back that is of benefit to them and of the lack of reciprocal visits especially, which have a high cultural value.

Establishing reciprocal relationships with Maori groups is a matter of urgency in researching and recording oral literature and oral history, and also for extending the experiences of staff and students.

For years certain of our exams in orals, oratory and protocol have been conducted in groups among students and and anywhere that is convenient such as the back of the Philosophy Dept or its seminar room and kitchen, or because of wet weather in 1972 in the student Union lounges. Students at the end of each session have had to cope with a feast, a highlight and a custom we all enjoy.

We recommend that campus Marae facilities be provided immediately to cater for and fulfil the aims of Maori Language and Literature; to cater for Te Reo Maori, Manaaki and other VUW societies; to facilitate and maintain good relationships between Maori groups and VUW research teams.

Proposed costs are $5000 (a guesstimate) for a prefab building or conversion of an old building with amenities.

The Kaiwaka Marae

The offer of Kaiwaka still stands from the Kaiwaka kinsfolk of Pine Taiapa, from me and Rev. Api Mahuika of Massey University. I am the intermedian of the local people. Conditions of use have yet to be fully discussed, but the title to the land should remain Maori and some Ringatu rules should be maintained, e.g. no smoking and shoes in the meeting house.

Kaiwaka Marae is a Ringatu Church Marae which is in the heart of the Ngati Porou territory, an area rich in things Maori. After 10 generations of use the Marae is very rarely used now, and its people in the district are very few in number. The Marae is two miles from Tikitiki township, which is 100 miles north of Gisborne, about eight to 10 hours motoring from Wellington.

The effective ground area is about one acre, and according to Ringatu custom is fenced into three areas namely, the burial ground and sacred storehouse in one corner, the meeting house with its open ground, the dining hall and kitchen with ample lawn space. Both the meeting house and dining room which were renovated by Pine Taiapa within the last five years are reticulated with electricity. The dining room should seat about 60 to 100 people on trestled tables, and the kitchen has ample cupboard space, a sink bench and a large, open fireplace.

Work on improving facilities has started and a works programme and costing is required now but while money is urgently needed from any source, I am convinced that much of the gear can be donated.

Proposed costs for Kaiwaka Marae are as follows:

Painting of dining room and meeting house to be completed (est.) $600. Transporting of three stoves to Tikitiki (est.) $15. Water supply for kitchen and ablution block; ablution block of brick blocks, 10 handbasins and 10 toilets; 400 gallon galvanised water tank; — total cost estimated (considerably less if labour is free) $6000. Overall cost — $6615.

Also needed are gifts or donations of the following: knives, forks, spoons — 100 unbreakable mugs, plates, desert plates - 100 serving dishes. Some pots and pans, serving dishes, small bowls. Washing machine and refrigerator. Sixty mattresses (preferably double) and pillows, runner carpets, vacuum cleaner.

I quote from Pine Taiapa's letter to the Vice Chancellor, Dr Taylor.... 'I gladly offer it (Kaiwaka) to you and the University in spite of its many inconveniences for people using it for a week or two weeks, and I am confident that the students will respond to take pride in having a Marae they can call their own while they are pursuing their studies. We will have teething obstacles, we will relish and overcome them, for we will be the first in the field of pooling our knowhow, to make our country a happy [unclear: muk-] racial one...'