Motuti Marae Carving Centre, Hokianga
Bishop Pompallier
This Rotary project was initiated by a visiting Rotarian from the US, a member of the Arcadia Club in California. In collaboration with the Kerikeri Rotary Club, Arcadia Club arranged for Rotary funding to develop a Vocational Training Centre to reinvigorate the carving heritage of the local Maori. The Maori cultural history is not written but rather is passed down by an oral history of song and dance, a craft history of weaving and art, and physical record of carving in three mediums - greenstone (jade), bone and wood.
Motuti Carving Centre Dedication : 8 November 2008
Motuti is known for being the final resting place of Bishop Pompallier, associated with the first printing press in Russell.
The Whare Hui at Motuti Marae is promoted as "100% carved" meaning its meeting house is decorated with elaborate carvings. However, there is no carving going on presently and unemployment is very high. Members of the Marae community are working on developing tourism as a means of income.
Fixing a new door : October 2009
This project is creating a vocational carving centre to compliment this tourism venture. Initially the local youths will be taught their carving heritage. Sufficient equipment has been provided for one tutor to teach at least three adults at the same time.
Lian painting and Jock getting powered up : November 2009
Early November 2009 saw the installation of the built-in bench along the back of the Barn and two new doors at the back and front of the building. The concrete floor, the driveway into the Barn, and path to the future storage shipping container position are all in place. The wood carving tools, mobile work stations and stools were delivered Wednesday 4th November 2009, much to the delight of the Motuti Marae community.
The new bench : November 2009
Members of the Arcadia Rotary Club joined the Kerikeri Club and Motuti Marae community for the official opening of the Carving Centre on Saturday 6th February 2010 (Waitangi weekend). Powhiri for our visiting American guests was on the Friday evening.
Carving Centre Bridges Continents : 6 February 2010
'What is the name of this building?' called out Pa Henare Tate? 'Motuti Carving Centre' came the reply. 'Who will benefit from this Centre?' 'All will benefit from it'. And thus it was named and unveiled.
DG9910 Georges Giovannelli from New Caledonia, PDG5300 Ernie & Gail Jensen, Rotarians and guests from California and New Zealand were given a tremendous welcome onto Motuti Marae over Waitangi weekend. What brought these diverse people to this remote northern Hokianga community? A collaborative Rotary project between Arcadia-California, Kerikeri-New Zealand, numerous other club and Rotary International to renovate and equip an old barn behind the majestic 100% carved Motuti Whare Hui. Historic in that it is the first Matching Grant project undertaken in New Zealand.
District Governor George Giovannelli from Noumea held the chisel over the first piece of wood as Pa Tate blessed it. Local carver Robert Paparoa looked on proudly as the opening took place. He presented DG George and Kerikeri President Owen Smith with a carved Koru sculpture in Totara wood. For the US group he had created a hefty plaque of Puriri wood with an eagle head above the Rotary symbol. Robert has students lined up to start learning the traditional history from Pa Henare and then expressing the stories through the carving medium. Pa Henare's explanations of the background and historical context of the existing carvings gave all a glimpse of the richness of Maori culture.
For many this was their first experience of being welcomed onto a marae, sleeping over, partaking of a hangi and celebrating the event. We arrived as strangers and left as family. A lot of effort beforehand was put into understanding Maori protocol around the Powhiri/welcoming ceremony and the Poroporoaki/Farewell ceremony. Many commented that they gained a far deeper understanding of Maori culture from this brief stay, particularly thanks to Pa Henare's explanations and guidance through the process.
This is an exciting step in the far reaching plans of the Motuti Marae to becoming a vibrant, self-sustaining hub of learning, both cultural and economic. The Rotary Club of Kerikeri is delighted to have become part of this through enabling the Carving Centre to get up and running.
