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Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones speaks at the Whakarite ceremony, National Army Marae, Waiouru.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
26 June 2009

New Chapter As National Army Marae Renews Life Force

Renovated Whakairo carvings were formally re-commissioned at a ‘Whakarite’ ceremony at the National Army Marae - Rongomaraeroa o Nga Hau e Wha Marae - in Waiouru this week.

A ceremony on 22 June blessed and formally acknowledged those involved with the project which saw carvings at the entranceway (Tomokanga) and wharenui refurbished, and in one instance, completely re-carved.

Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones said it was great to bring the Marae back to its ideal state.

“It is a place where we bring new people into the Army to understand what is like to be part of Ngāti Tūmātauenga,” Major General Jones said at the ceremony.

“The carvings are symbols of what we feel in the Army. Courage, strength, and we take that with us when we leave. We are strong because we are one in the Army.”

In September 2008, it was identified that over the last 14 years the original carvings had suffered extensive water and environmental damage rendering them unsafe and rundown

This began the genesis of a project named “Mauri Oho” (an awakening or regeneration of life force).

The project was led by Mr Jim Te Tuhi and Te Rangi Kaihoro and two teams assisted with the carvings in what was a whole-of-family affair. Fourteen people were based in Auckland and nine in Te Kopuru – a small town on the Kauri Coast near Dargaville.

While the group intended to carve with Kauri, after they began work on a seven metre piece of the wood, they realised it was Rimu due to its density and weight. One carved panel called the Paepae-roa required a six-man lift to fix it into place on the porch of the wharenui.

The Tomokanga entranceway at the National Army Marae which greets visitors first is unusual in that both sides are carved. The front set of carvings of the Tomokanga was so damaged it needed to be completely re-carved. This side is painted black to symbolise the role a solider performs in wartime to protect ones nation. During the upgrade the carvers used a more contemporary style which ‘jumps off’ the backboard but keeps in the same theme of the original carving.

The other, red side of the Tomokanga (which faces the wharenui) required refurbishment and repainting and included special emphasis on the apex figurine of a cross.

Named Te Ngira (the needle), the Red Tomokanga welcomes those to the ranks of the Army and depicts the journey on becoming a soldier. It represents all soldiers within Ngāti Tūmātauenga joining together as one strand and passing through the eye of the needle.

The original carvings of the Tomokanga were commissioned by A Company of the 28th Māori Battalion who supported Te Tuhi and Kaihoro to do the carvings. Eventually these works were a different size and shape to the steel frame of the entranceway and were adapted to fit, so after 14 years, the carvings were able to be specifically re-designed and personalised for the framework.

Two of the carvers involved in the National Army Marae project, Whetu Hautapu and Lucky Te Tuhi, were also recognised at the Whakarite ceremony as graduating to Tohunga – master carvers.

As part of the Marae’s ten-year plan, a maintenance schedule has been included to take care of the carvings, including the skills required for touch-ups and the correct protocol around their care.

ENDS

Click to enlarge
An example of a whakairo carving on the completely recarved 'black side' of the Tomokanga entranceway at the National Army Marae which greets visitors. The hōia (soldier) stands defiantly at the apex represents the standing and mana which is achieved by discipline, hard work, courage and determination to strive for and attain leadership qualities. During the upgrade the carvers used a more contemporary style which ‘jumps off’ the backboard but keeps in the same theme of the original carving.

The National Army Marae Tomokanga is unusual in that both sides are carved. The front set of carvings of the Tomokanga was so damaged it needed to be completely re-carved. This side is painted black to symbolise the role a solider performs in wartime to protect ones nation.

HISTORY OF CARVINGS AT RONGOMARAEROA O NGA HAU E WHA MARAE, NEW ZEALAND ARMY NATIONAL MARAE COMPLEX.

1. Ngāti (tribal) status was written about by General Birk’s 91/2 Memorandum delivered to The National 28th Māori Battalion Conference February (2nd month) in 1991, and conferred to the New Zealand Army by Māori in Easter 1994. Ngāti Tūmātauenga was officially recognized as a tribal entity within New Zealand at the opening of the New Zealand Army National Marae in October 1995.

2. The Taonga (treasures) which adorn the Marae were gifted by various Iwi (tribes) and people and acknowledge their acceptance of the Ngāti Tūmātauenga concept. Mr Jim Te Tuhi was a key figure in overseeing the carving projects for the opening of the Marae and has been instrumental in the current project to renovate the carvings.

3. The tomokanga (entranceway) to the Marae and welcomes you to the ranks of the Army and depicts your journey, on becoming a Soldier. The hōia (soldier) who stands defiantly at the apex represents your standing and mana which is achieved by discipline, hard work, courage and determination to strive for and attain leadership qualities.

4. The Red Tomokanga is named Te Ngira (the needle) and represents all soldiers within Ngāti Tūmātauenga joining together as one strand and passing through the eye of the needle. The maihi (bargeboards) reflect the contributions of those personnel responsible for this Marae. They also represent the individual and collective responsibilities to achieve a common goal to preserve the history of past Units that have served New Zealand.

5. Traditionally Māori name a whare after an ancestor and thereafter all the stories within that whare tie back to that ancestor. Soldiers of the New Zealand Army do not trace their lineage to one ancestor, therefore, the name “Te Whare Tū Taua ā Tūmātauenga” (The House of War pertaining to the God of War Tūmātauenga) was found to be more appropriate to encapsulate the diversity and full representation of the New Zealand Army.

6. The carvings on the maihi of the whare explain the elements of training and the will to succeed, with the right side showing the progress of the soldier, and the left side the progress of the officer. The Ama (upright posts) represents various Atua Māori (Māori gods) with the tekoteko (carved figure) on the top of the whare representing Tūmātauenga.

7. The pae roa and pae iti (carved panels across the mahau (porch)) represent some of the histories of the mana whenua of Waiouru and of Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi and others.

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