Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Contemporary Maori art is by no means only about painting. Many other artists use in-
stallations as the preferred medium - look out for work by Jacqueline Fraser and Peter
Robinson.
There are some great permanent exhibitions of Maori visual arts in the major centres.
Both the Auckland and Christchurch Art Galleries hold strong collections, as does Wel-
lington's Te Papa.
Contemporary Theatre
The 1970s saw the emergence of many Maori playwrights and plays, and theatre is a
strong area of Maori arts today. Maori theatre drew heavily on the traditions of the
marae
. Instead of dimming the lights and immediately beginning the performance, many Maori
theatre groups began with a stylised
powhiri
(traditional Maori welcome into a
marae
),
had space for the audience to respond to the play, and ended with a
karakia
or a farewell.
VISITING MARAE
As you travel around NZ, you will see many marae(meeting-house complexes).
Often maraeare owned by a descent group. They are also owned by urban Maori
groups, schools, universities and church groups, and they should only be visited by
arrangement with the owners. Some maraethat may be visited include: Huria
Marae (
Click here
)
in Tauranga; Koriniti Marae (
Click here
)
on the Whanganui River
Rd; Te Manuka Tutahi Marae (
Click here
)
in Whakatane; and the marae at Te Papa
(
Click here
) museum in Wellington.
Maraecomplexes include a wharenui(meeting house), which often embodies an
ancestor. Its ridge is the backbone, the rafters are ribs, and it shelters the descend-
ants. There is a clear space in front of the wharenui(ie the marae atea). Some-
times there are other buildings: a wharekai(dining hall); a toilet and shower block;
perhaps even classrooms, play equipment and the like.
Hui(gatherings) are held at marae. Issues are discussed, classes conducted,
milestones celebrated and the dead farewelled. Te reoMaori (the Maori language)
is prominent, sometimes exclusively so.
Visitors sleep in the meeting house if a huigoes on for longer than a day. Mat-
tresses are placed on the floor, someone may bring a guitar, and stories and jokes
always go down well as the evening stretches out…
The Powhiri
If you visit a maraeas part of an organised group, you'll be welcomed in a powhiri.
The more common ones are outlined here.
