Mataatua whare returns, Ngati Awa holds festival

A carved house built in the 1870s will take centre stage in Whakatane this weekend.

The return of the Mataatua whare comes a century after the carved house began its journey of exhibition to Australia, England and then finally the Otago Museum in the 1920s.

Returned to Ngati Awa in 1996 as part of their Waitangi Tribunal Special Deed of Settlement, the past 15 years have been spent restoring Mataatua to its original state.

This weekend the restored whare will be officially opened inside the just completed Te Manuka Tutahi Marae complex.

Hundreds of people are expected at two days of festivities, including Maori King Tuheitia Paki.

Tomorrow Ngati Awa will powhiri all other Mataatua iwi on to Wairaka Marae in readiness for Saturday's official opening.

The day begins at 3.30am with the ritual opening conducted in darkness and concludes with performances on the Marae Atea from 4pm onwards.

Running in conjunction with the official opening at Te Manuka Tutahi Marae is the Ngati Awa Festival on the Mataatua Reserve.

School kapa haka, hip hop dance groups and Maisey Rika are included in the lineup.