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Regional | Te Kuiti

Re-awakening Te Tokanganui-a-Noho

Te Tokanganui-a-Noho before restoration work at Te Kūiti Pā - Photo / Te Kūiti Pā facebook

Descendants of Te Tokanganui-a-Noho Marae in Te Kūiti are preparing to reopen their marae complex following the completion of restoration work over the past 12 months.

Built at around 1873, Te Tokanganui-a-Noho has a very unique story being one of the oldest wharenui across the country.

Whakanuia Te Tokanganui-ā-noho!

Kei te Rātapu ka whakaoho ake tātou i Te Tokanganui-ā-noho kei te rima karaka o te ata. E te iwi, Naumai Haere mai.

Posted by MFM Te Reo o Te Iwi on Monday, January 21, 2019
Video credit - MFM (Maniapoto FM)

When the wharenui was built, it was moved to its original home at the mouth of the Mangaōkewa River.

It was then moved to Pukenui Hill at the end of the Te Kūiti township, where it sits now next to the railway lines.

Over the weekend, approximately 60 members of the marae gathered for a working bee ahead of the marae's re-opening this weekend.

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Working Bee 2019

Ngā mihi nui to all those who attended the working bee on 19 Jan. Our Pā is looking in prestine condition, ready for the re-opening this weekend. Here's a quick snapshot video so you can see the Pā and the work that happened over the weekend.

Posted by Te Kūiti Pā on Sunday, January 20, 2019

The hau kāinga are expecting hundreds of people attending Te Rā Whakaohooho Ake Anō o Te Tokanganui-a-Noho on January 27.

Starting at 5am, the Ringatū and Ratana churches will conduct karakia before the raising of the flag and mihimihi on the marae ātea.  There will also be kai hākari and entertainment before the event concludes at around 11am.

Te Kāea will have more updates throughout the week and a facebook livestream at the re-opening on Sunday

* Photos courtesy of Te Kūiti Pā facebook page