About Wharekawa Marae
Wharekawa (the house of rituals) is nestled below Te Ngahere nui o Kohukohunui the great forest of Kohukohunui, (the Hunua Ranges) under the watchful eye of our maunga Kohukohunui in the small coastal village of Kaiaua facing our beloved moana, Tiikapa.
In 1924 Aherata Ngaweke Waata and Tiatia Wiremu together granted 3 acres 0 roads and 3 perches of land to be set aside for the purposes of a Marae for the iwi of Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Whānaunga.
During this period Te Puea was visiting many Marae through Hauraki, raising funds for Tūrangawaewae and the whare ‘Mahinarangi’, the original Kimiora and Nga Wharemoe Pare Waikato and Pare Hauraki. During her visit under ‘Te Pou o Mangatawhiri’, she lay down a koha to Ngaati Paāoa and Ngaati Whanaunga to help stand a Marae.
When Tutawhiao Ngakete and Ngaati Paaoa kaumatua went to retrieve it, he was told by the senior kuia to return it. This kuia was Whakatutuki, otherwise known as Ki, or nanny Ki to many. She held great Mana among the people. It is said the reason for not accepting this koha is because of the project with which Te Puea was promoting, was of much greater importance than that of her own people. Besides Pare Hauraki whare was established at Tūrangawaewae for her Iwi. (E tu whakahoki te koha nei ki te Kahui Ariki mo Pare Wakato tena pea mo oku mokopuna hei whakatuu he whare mo tatou, a te waa).
This period was when Ngaati Paaoa and Ngaati Whanaunga lived a fairly sustainable lifestyle, living off the moana and the whenua. They congregated often to discuss many issues within their tribal boundaries of Hauraki. It is said a ‘kauta’ (corrugated cooking shed) stood on the premises during this time but was taken down. About the late 1940’s – 50’s after the Second resources by making their own blocks and building materials. Unfortunately, this was later condemned due to the materials being inferior. No further attempts were made after this.
Many families had moved to the cities in search of employment and education. Those families resettled in the sub urban districts of Auckland, South Auckland, Pukekohe, Tokoroa, Huntly and other parts of the country.
This migration left behind the kaumatua to tend to their whenua. Fairly soon Government policies, both at regional and national levels were to see many of the whānau whenua leased by the Māori Trust Office Māori Land Courts at pepper-corn rates for long periods of time. Consequently, this took it’s toll on our kaumatua.
The mid 1960’s saw a revival of many whānau who had established themselves in secure employment, home ownership and education for their families, wanting to re-establish ties to their kaumatua, kuia and the Marae back home.
Several hui were held by ahānau Committees to form fund raising events. Some of those were Muri Aroha Kaiaua, Wharekawa Committee, and many whānau. By the late 1960’s, enough funds were raised to build the ablution block and to transport a building from Ardmore Teachers Training College Papakura, for a Wharemoe / Whare Tupuna which exists today.
In 1972 the dining hall was built on site, and in 1982 further work was carried out under the P.E.P, a Government initiative scheme that was assisted by Huakina Trust. The Kitchen Block was also built during this time. The Clubrooms were built during the early 1980’s where the Kohanga Reo is now temporarily situated, with further refurbishment to the kitchen in the late 1980’s.
In 2001 the new Wharenui was built.
In 2002 both paepae were constructed and the beginnings of a landscaped design, and implementation undertaken which includes the Waharoa, Pathway and Marae Atea. During the 1920’s and 1930’s Te Puea Herangi was visiting many marae throughout Hauraki, raising funds for Tuurangawaewae and the whare “Mahinarangi”, the original Kimiora and Ngaa wharemoe Pare Waikato and Pare Hauraki.
During her visit under ‘Te Pou o Mangatawhiri’ she lay down a koha to Ngaati Paaoa and Ngaati Whanaunga to help build a marae. When Tutawhiao Ngakete, of Ngaati Paaoa went to retrieve it, he was told by the senior kuia to return it. This kuia was Whakatuutuki, otherwise known as Kii or Nanny Kii to many. She held great mana among the people. It is said the reason for not accepting this koha is because the project which Te Puea was promoting, was of much greater importance than that of her own people. Besides Pare Hauraki whare was established at Tuurangawaewae for her iwi. (E tuu whakahoki te koha nei ki te Kaahui Ariki moo raatou hei whakatuu he whare moo te Kiingitanga moo te iwi o Pare Hauraki me Pare Waikato teenaa pea maa aaku mokopuna hei whakatuu he whare moo taatou , aa te waa).
In the early 2000s plans were underway for a new wharenui to be built and by 2004 our present Wharenui for descendants of Ngaati Paaoa and Ngaati Whanaunga was erected. This wharenui is utilised for many waananga, hui ora and hui mate and a number of celebrations for marae whaanau and those we host.
In 2019 we developed our Te Whakatutuki Marae Development Plan, to achieve the moemoea of our Marae and whanau, our Marae closed to begin initial works including the rebuild of our wharekai and refurbishment our wharemoe tawhito which was completed in 2024.
Te Kotuuiti
With the support of the Iwi, Ngaati Paaoa agreed to participate in the 1990 Treaty of Waitangi 150 years celebrations and received funding to build a waka taua.
Te Kotuuiti Tuarua was commissioned and subsequently launched in 1989 for which a wharau was built to house Te Kotuuiti Tuarua at Wharekawa Marae.
Wharekawa Marae
Maunga – Kohukohunui te Maunga
Awa – Whakatīwai te Awa
Moana – Tīikapa Moana te Moana
Iwi – Ngaati Paaoa te Iwi | Ngaati Whanaunga te Iwi
Waka – Te Kotuiti Tuarua te Waka
Kawa – Tainui
