Wai-o-Turi marae gets grant for Parara-ki-te-uru research

Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata is the lead researcher for the project, which will gather oral stories about Parara-ki-te-uru. Photo / Bevan Conley

A South Taranaki marae has been awarded a grant to fund research into the history of its area.

Wai-o-Turi marae will get $7,875 to help explore the history of Parara-ki-te-uru, the name of the spring near the marae.

"It is very well-known historically, because when Turi, the captain of the Aotea waka, and his wife Rongorongo landed and settled in this area, this was known as their pool, their source of sustenance and well-being," lead researcher Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata said.

Earlier in the week, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage announced funding grants for 24 community-based history projects, with Wai-o-Turi being one of them.

Funding will be administered through the Ministry's two history grants, Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho Oral History Grants and Whiria Te Mahara NZ History Grants.

Both grants support projects that contribute to the study of Aotearoa New Zealand history.

Walsh-Tapiata said they have been looking into different ways of archiving their history and gathering their stories.

"In particular, what appealed to us is this is about oral history. It is a whole different form of research that allows people to tell their stories by having conversations. That is what attracted us."

In early 2022, they will bring four young adults from the marae together to spend time talking about the idea of oral history and talk about two separate groups who could help their research.

One group is those who grew up around Parara-ki-te-uru, while the other is the one who know the puna in a wider context through either the Aotea waka, Turi and Rongorongo.

"We are going to ask each of them to do one oral history interview. At the end of that we will come back and talk about those stories that are gathered.

"Oral history allows you to tell a story without the interviewer spending a lot of time asking direct questions. Their primary role is to set the scene, but then to allow the person they are having a conversation with to tell their story and just prompt them.

"We think it is a far easier conversation to have with our elders, and we just don't know what the stories are that might come out. Oral history is a really good way of gathering stories."

Walsh-Tapiata said the plan was to store the stories at Aotea Utanganui – The Museum of South Taranaki, in Pātea.

"That is because we already have a well-established relationship with them and they have been gathering stories around different subject areas.

"We think this information will be able to add to that but also be kept in a close, safe space for others to access in the future."