What do you do in a marae?

What do you do in a marae?

Marae are used for meetings, celebrations, funerals, educational workshops and other important tribal events. A marae incorporates a carved meeting house (wharenui) with an open space in front (marae ātea), a dining hall and cooking area, and a toilet and shower block.

How would you describe a marae?

A marae (in New Zealand Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Tahitian), malaʻe (in Tongan), meʻae (in Marquesan) or malae (in Samoan) is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies. In all these languages, the term also means cleared and free of weeds or trees.

What are the parts of a marae?

What is a Marae?

• Tekoteko (head)
• Maihi (arms)
• Amo (legs)
• Tāhuhu (backbone)
• Heke (ribs)
• Poutokomanawa (central heart post)

What is marae governance?

Marae are set on land that is communally held. It may be land given by an ancestor – or several ancestors – for the purpose of a marae, or it may be land that was already in Māori title and was separated out from a larger block. The land is a Māori reservation, governed by section 338 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.

What can you not do in a marae?

During the pōwhiri

• You should not just walk onto a marae; you need to be welcomed on.
• Women walk on as a group, while men also group together.
• Do not eat or drink during the welcome.
• Do not walk in front of a speaker on the marae ātea.
• Speak in Māori, not English, if giving a speech (unless expressly allowed).

Can you just go to a marae?

You should not just walk onto a marae; you need to be welcomed on. Women walk on as a group, while men also group together. Do not eat or drink during the welcome. Males sit at the front on most marae, though some marae allow both women and men to sit on the front seat.

What is special about a marae?

Unique to the Māori cultural experience is the marae, a communal and sacred meeting ground that provides everything from eating and sleeping space to religious and educational facilities. It was where tribal societies gathered to eat and sleep, all under the same roof.

Why is a marae sacred?

The marae is sacred to the living, and is a memorial to the dead. For this reason, the marae must be entered in a reverent manner. The marae is socially integrative in the sense that it fosters identity, self-respect, pride and social control. The marae is also integrative in that all people are welcome as guests.

What are the pillars of a marae called?

Amo – the columns to the sides of the marae.

What is the entrance to a marae called?

The manuhiri (you and the group) meet at the front of the marae, outside the entrance in the area referred to as the waharoa, waiting to be called on. Usually the woman are at the front, flanked by the men.

What is Māori governance?

In Māori organisations, the objectives of governance will take into account the way in which Māori relate to the assets and what they are used for. In some instances, although the organisation operates commercially, commercial objectives may be balanced with the need to safeguard the assets for future generations.

What are the main functions of a marae?

They usually consist of a meeting house (wharenui), which are full of carvings both inside and out, an open space in front of the meeting house, a dining hall, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Maraes are used for tribal events, such as meetings, funerals, celebrations, educational workshops and to share the culture with tourists.

What does marae stand for in New Zealand?

The marae (meeting grounds) is the focal point of Māori communities throughout New Zealand. A marae is a fenced-in complex of carved buildings and grounds that belongs to a particular iwi (tribe), hapū (sub tribe) or whānau (family). Māori people see their marae as tūrangawaewae – their place to stand and belong.

What makes a marae a Maori meeting ground?

A marae is a Maori meeting ground that belongs to a particular iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe) or whanau (family). They usually consist of a meeting house (wharenui), which are full of carvings both inside and out, an open space in front of the meeting house, a dining hall, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Where is the best place to visit a marae?

Travellers are most likely to visit a marae by doing a Maori “cultural experience” usually carried out for tourists. There are more opportunities to take part in cultural experiences in the North Island, especially in Rotorua, as the North Island had more Maori settlers when they first arrived in New Zealand.