Ana Apatu: Marae a long time in the planning

Ana Apatu at Te Aranga Marae

I ask Kara Kire to share the history or inception of Te Aranga Marae. She has been involved right from the beginning with the organising (mataatua) committee. This organising committee, where people came and went over a period of many years, was charged with finding funding, the appropriate site and dealing with bureaucracy. Before we start on our business - one has to admire Kara's haircut and her gorgeous red top. Styley Kara Kire.

Kara is originally from Opotiki, 32km towards Ohope. Her mother, a Turei from Tiki Tiki, and her father from Tuhoe. Her nursing background found her eventually working at a nursing home in Murupara. Forestry work took families to Murupara but she claimed there was not much for women to do. Women came to Hawke's Bay to pick fruit.

Her nine brothers and two sisters all moved to Hawke's Bay. Her family gained employment with the freezing works. She tells me that coming to Hawke's Bay at that time was like coming to a province of "milk and honey". Lots of food, and houses were cheap. Her family originally stayed at Waipatu where, she describes, there were families that lived in tin caravans with chimneys.

Her family was placed at the top of the list for a State Advances house in Raureka. They later moved to a State house in Flaxmere. She remembers the houses being of good quality and warm. She said if people had $2000, families were given the opportunity to purchase or rent to own.

This deal was available for everyone and gave people the opportunity to buy their first home. (Interesting to learn this when we are currently looking at Flaxmere Housing NZ houses). When the works closed down and people could not pay their mortgages, HNZ bought the houses back.

She then describes the beginning of Te Aranga Marae. She describes the inception of a mataawaka marae. It was important for people who came here, to work in the fields and freezing works, to have their own marae, somewhere to connect to. It was all about te reo and tikanga.

The people of Omahu extended their welcome to their marae. Some people, not from here, felt that Omahu Marae would not provide that place of connection. Aunty Lulu (Robin) and Aunty Paki (O'Keefe) called Flaxmere "Canopy City" because marquees were erected for tangi.

Families that wanted to be part of the marae project met at Jack Waikato's, who was also on the organising committee.

Fundraising

Housie used to be at the buffalo hall. Housie, in those days, was a big deal and a fundraiser for all local marae. Apparently hundreds would attend and the winner could take away up to $50. Kara tells me it was a great way to meet people. No alcohol but most smoked.

The Queen carnival was also a fundraiser. A princess was chosen around the blossom parade and this also raised funds. As an aside, there is or was a classic photo behind the Hastings library front desk of the Blossom Parade "Princesses". My Aunty Minola (Apatu) Paul is one of those in this picture.

Council, at the time, said the marae could be built at the civic square. Mayor JJ O'Connor was behind this development. Then Havelock North was suggested. Council members changed and the next suggestion was out by the then dump. It was decided that this site was too close to Omahu, then St Leonards Park, Chatham Park, and, eventually, a site next to te whanau house - Flaxmere, next to where the Cook Island Centre is now.

People involved with the organising committee turned over because of the changing sites and bureaucracy. Plans were drawn for every site. Eventually, the site where the marae lies now (according to Kara) is because Ngati Kahungunu iwi gifted the land.

Te Aranga sits on a 2.2ha site. Geographically, it is built on an ancient bed of the Ngaruroro River with views of Te Mata Peak and Kahuranaki. Everyone is welcome at Te Aranga. Around the top of the wharenui are flags of the world. When visitors come, they can connect with their homelands.

Te Aranga Heretaunga "the uprising of Heretaunga".

Whatu ngarongaro te tangata - toitu te whenua

People come and go, the land remains

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.