L7: Marae

• Lapita culture:

  • This shows where maori came from
  • Also where other islands came from over time
  • Extended throughout the pacific and polynesia by migration of the group of Proto-Austronesians which maori descend from.
  • Left their home to explore east as in south-east asia into the wider expanse of the pacific ocean
  • Over time these people populated the islands of the pacific ocean.
  • Intentionally explored the pacific ocean in search of new land/home. there's linguistic evidence to show that this is true. (Polynesian triangle). Hawaii in North. NZ in south.
• What are marae and what is their purpose?

   

  Marae have been found all across the pacific

  • Tends to be a public space.
  • Not like a meeting house but t is a space where maori can come together
  • Marae is a gathering space in nz.
• How have maori evolved from their origins?

   

  • Were only found in polynesia
  • Only found once the austronesians began exploring polynesia
  • Were once formal structures made for celestial navigation.
  • Were only built for experts to come together and build their knowledge of navigation and to explore their horizons within the pacific.
  • Island based constants. From the water they wpuld use the marae to figure out where they are at sea. To triangulate their position with what they were seeing celestially.
  • Developed into highly ritualised spaces.
• NZer's

  • Complex social spaces
  • Communities within which kin lived. Not just a space for tohunga.
  • Role is more diverse; funerals, traditional practices, groups outside come
  • Not a place associated with tohunga but chiefly authority. The rangatira being the leader of hapu.
  • Rangatira live close to the marae to show that they are the ones who excersize the authority on that marae.
  • The hapu live at marae
• What is marae atea?

  Marae atea is central to the pa

  • Provided a space to wananga and communicate knowledge about whakapapa and tikanga for eg
  • Rangatira excersize their authority here
  • Atea = open/ open space
  • Associated with Tumatauenga
• What is Tuahu?

  hidden away from general view

  • Associated with tohunga (experts)
  • Separated from marae by atea.
  • No longer a thing
• European arrival:

  Marae communities purposefully moved to areas near port locations

  • Strategic - economic opportunities, engage with outside world at first hand
  • Trade resources - muskets, clothing, iron tools. These were important things to have.
  • Maori were excited for pakeha to come
  • Maori were already engaging with other pacific islands. In other languages
  • Commune with european settlers.
• Marae as a political hub:

  • It was now a village square near the 1800's
  • Political powerhouse of te ao maori
  • Political decisions were made at a hapu level.
  • Iwi was a kinship group. Their decisions weren't really taken into regard as that group because it was a loose confederation.
  • Hapu may have different political views on an issue which meant that iwi could not conclude to a singular decision. Therefore, it was only hapu that had political stance in a marae
• Marae as sites to practice tikanga Maori

  • Marae is a place where this occurs the most
  • Ceremonies and rituals - powhiri, tangihanga, wanaga/hui (debate/discussion)
  • Law of tikanga reigns here the most
• Marae is important for:

  • Cultural revitalisation
  • Social/ historical context in which maori have lost language and tikanga.
• Marae as sites of tapu

  • Managed by kaumatua
  • Restricted/ sacred rituals/ customs that are managed bby kaumatua.
  • Ripping grass off the marae is seen as rude.
  • Although public, you cannot act however you want to.
• Marae today

  • Whare tipuna (main meeting house), wharekai (kitchen)
  • Defined in the book as a complex of buildings
  • This is because some marae have these and others might not
  • What makes it a marae is to serve the hapu that it was made for. Or serve as a place in which tikanga is practiced.
• Significance:

  • Central to turangawaewae (a place to stand)
  • Connection to tupuna and whanaunga (whakapapa is excersized through here)
  • Connection to place and whenua
  • Communities can come together here
  • Ahi ka = place where we can show occupation of land whether or not the lands within families are still in their ownership or not
  • Land loss is a political issue
• Cultural resistance

  • Marae is the only place where you can see te reo and tikanga in its strongest form
  • Although trying to infiltrate tikanga maori in other parts.
  • The last bastions of maori culture
• Urban and Pan-Tribal Marae

  • Cultural displacement. Response: building of urban an dtribal maraes.
  • Issue is marae actually not connected to whenua or iwi may not practice the same tikanga. In auckland, many groups make sure to engage with mana whenua within territories.