Here we are at Onetahua marae ki Mohua, at the nose of Mauis waka in the South Island. the iwi here are Te Atiawa, Rarua, and Ngati Tama, after a lovely warm shower, before we were treated a lovely meal of porkbones, grilled fish, cockles and the most delicious steam pudding one could devour we sat around in the most modern facilities a marae could offer feeling the warmth of the people of the marae. With a tentative plan established for the coming day; and the expectation of school kids organised to visiit the waka, we were entertained by a special thank you mihi by watch captain Toiora Hawira and our people from Wanganui Tired but warm with the food of contentment swelling our bellies, we retired to the very colourful and beautifully carved Wharenui of Onetahua marae where we were treated to the kaumatua of the marae, historicising the great cheif Te Rauparahas migrationary story to the area, the reasons why he came and the people who established themselves here. for me, being from ngati Maniapoto and having heard the stories of this great Tainui chief, it was very humbling to make my geneologucaf and historical connections to this land and the history that link one to this marae, that Ngati Kuia, Ngati Koata Ngati Rarua, were known as Ngati Mango before leaving the Kawhia Marokopa area with Te Rauparaha for Te Upoko o te Ika. Those links were brought home by our kaumatua stating that In Marikopa there is an urupa there known as Wairau; in Wairau in this area ; there is a urupa called Marokopa. And so the message is quite clear as Haunui waka crept into port yesterday escorted by two waka ama, As our excited crew and even more excited welcoming party readied ourselves to berth Haunui; one could mot help but realise that modern Waka are living artefacts from a time long since gone for contemporary times, waka set the scene for the renewal of connections long since severed by the necessity of migration by our ancestors. Waka voyaging though while it may not be for everyone is momentous as an event, if you are lucky enough to experience.a voyage, maybe you too will be blessed with priceless memories that you can recount to your descendants in the coming years. Heres the lovely Shaia Twomey demonstrating the action song Haunui Haunui Waka
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:31:13 +0000
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