What does Marae Atea mean?

(noun) courtyard, public forum - open area in front of the wharenui where formal welcomes to visitors takes place and issues are debated. The marae ātea is the domain of Tūmatauenga, the atua of war and people, and is thus the appropriate place to raise contentious issue.

Also asked, what is the Marae Atea?

In Māori usage, the marae ātea (often shortened to marae) is the open space in front of the wharenui (meeting house; literally "large building"). Generally the term marae is used to refer to the whole complex, including the buildings and the ātea. This area is used for pōwhiri (welcome ceremonies) featuring oratory.

Beside above, what are the parts of a marae? Structure

The koruru at the point of the gable on the front of the wharenui can represent the ancestor's head.
The maihi (the diagonal bargeboards) signify arms; the ends of the maihi are called raparapa, meaning "fingers"
The tāhuhu (ridge beam) represents the backbone.
The heke or rafters signify ribs.

Furthermore, what does a marae represent?

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).

What is the purpose of a wharenui?

wharenui. 1. (noun) meeting house, large house - main building of a marae where guests are accommodated. Traditionally the wharenui belonged to a hapū or whānau but some modern meeting houses, especially in large urban areas, have been built for non-tribal groups, including schools and tertiary institutions.

28 Related Question Answers Found

What do you do at 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.

What is a Maori welcome called?

A pōwhiri (called a pōhiri in eastern dialects, and pronounced pō?wiri with a glottal stop in the Taranaki-Wanganui area) is a Māori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, dancing, singing and finally the hongi. However, pōwhiri are also often performed for tourist groups as part of special events.

What is a whare tipuna?

tipuna whare. 1. (noun) ancestral house - a term often used for a meeting house.

Who is the Maori god of peace?

Rongo

When was the first marae built?

New Zealand's first university marae was Te Herenga Waka, opened at Victoria University of Wellington in 1986.

What ATUA resides inside the wharenui?

Conversely, the domain of Rongo-mā-Tane (the Atua/Deity of peace, balance and cultivated foods) resides inside the wharenui.

What do Poupou carvings symbolize?

A poupou is a wall panel located underneath the veranda of a Māori wharenui (meeting house). It is generally built to represent the spiritual connection between the tribe and their ancestors and thus each poupou is carved with emblems of the tohunga whakairo's (carver's) particular lineage.

Which ATUA resides in the wharenui?

The marae ātea, the space outside the front of the meeting house, is the domain of Tūmatauenga (or Tū), the god of war. Speeches that take place on the marae ātea are allowed to be forceful, representing the nature of Tū. The wharenui (meeting house) is considered to be the domain of Rongo, the god of peace.

What can you not do in 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. Do not walk in front of a speaker on the marae ātea.

Can you drink alcohol on a marae?

Many marae remained alcohol-free, but even there groups would congregate outside or in someone's nearby garage to enjoy a drink, and beer was often served at weddings and 21sts.

What is kawa and tikanga?

What is Tikanga and Kawa? Te Reo Māori is the kawa. Kawa is the policy and tikanga are the procedures on how the policy is realised. To put it simply, kawa is what we do, tikanga is how we do it.

Why is a marae important to the Maori culture?

Unique to the Māori cultural experience is the marae. The marae is a communal and sacred meeting ground which provides everything from eating, sleeping, religious and educational facilities. Yet, the marae does not simply act as a centre for living but also as a means of staying connected to the spiritual ancestors.

What is the difference between a PA and a marae?

In former times it was the open space and buildings in a settlement or pa (fortified settlement) where the community gathered. Today a Marae is a complex of buildings and open space, with facilities to cater for and accommodate a community and its visitors.

What animal do the Maori worship?

In Maori cosmology, whales are the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the oceans. They were thought of in awe, as supernatural beings, and often deemed tapu, or sacred.

What is hapu and iwi?

Iwi. The largest political grouping in pre-European Māori society was the iwi (tribe). The hapū of an iwi might sometimes fight each other, but would unite to defend tribal territory against other tribes. Iwi-tūturu (the homeland tribe) or tino-iwi (the central tribe) were groups living in a long-held location.

Where does the Maori culture come from?

It originated from, and is still part of, Eastern Polynesian culture. Māori culture also forms a distinctive part of New Zealand culture and, due to a large diaspora and the incorporation of Māori motifs into popular culture, is found throughout the world.

What do you wear to a marae?

A pōwhiri is a formal occasion and most people dress smartly and reasonably modestly. Traditionally women wear dark coloured skirts or dresses below the knee. We recommend you avoid shorts, short-skirts, and jandals. Before a pōwhiri begins, the manuhiri gather at the waharoa (entrance), at the front of the marae.