Manutuke

Te Poho o Rukupo

Ko Manawaru te maunga
Ko Te Arai te awa
Ko Horouta me Takitimu nga waka
Ko Ngati Kaipoho me Ngai Te Aweawe nga hapu
Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi

Ko Manutuke te whenua
Ko Te Poho o Rukupo me Epeha nga wharenui
Ko Te Poho o Hinehou (Māori Battalion) te whare-kai
Ko Manutuke te urupa
Ko Manutuke te wahi noho
Ko Toko Toru Tapu te whare karakia
Ko Manutuke te kohanga reo
Ko Manawaru nga whare kaumatua

Manutuke Marae is situated on the Manutuke 1, C and E4 blocks and belongs to Ngati Kaipoho and Ngai Te Aweawe. The wharenui are named Te Poho o Rukupo and Epeha.  The following whakatauki applies to Manutuke Marae:

‘Toia nga waewae o to tamahine
Kia tau ai te haere i nga parae o Manutuke.’ 

‘Fashion well your daughter’s legs
That she may look sprightly on Manutuke field.’

The wharenui, Te Poho o Rukupo is one of the oldest meeting houses in Turanga. It was originally located at Pakirikiri by the mouth of the Karaua stream. It was built in 1878 by Rukupo’s younger brother Pera Tawhiti in honour of Rukupo. Te Poho o Rukupo was moved to its present site by Otene Pitau (adopted son of Rukupo). Many hapu helped move the wharenui by oxen. The relocation took many days. During the 1980s Rongowhakaata people, directed by Cliff Whiting, undertook extensive restoration work.

The whare Epeha belonged to the Whaitiri family who lived on either side of Te arai river. Following consolidation of lands at Manutuke, the whanau asked that the house be located alongside the other houses at Manutuke Marae. The Epeha carvings are very close to those of the Manutuke Church.

Today Manutuke Marae is dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who fought with the 28th Maori Battalion, the dining room is so named Maori Battalion. The marae today is therefore used by Rongowhakaata for ANZAC Day Commemorations.

For marae enquiries email: manutukemarae.official@gmail.com