Invaluable insights into the lives of their ancestors were revealed to a group of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti researchers during a recent journey of exploration to Wellington.
Led by Raewyn Nikora, the team of marae researchers “embarked on a significant journey” to rediscover the history of their whare Ruakapanga that stands at Hauiti Marae in Ūawa/Tolaga Bay.
A diverse and multi-generational team of 18 marae researchers explored the collections at the Alexander Turnbull Library (National Library of New Zealand) and Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand in Wellington last month.
The team, who all have whakapapa connections to Hauiti Marae, came from various locations including Ūawa, Gisborne, Auckland, Rotorua, Ōtaki and Wellington.
They self-funded their visit aimed at rediscovering the history surrounding the construction of the carved house Ruakapanga at Hauiti Marae, which was built during the 1940s and opened in 1943.
In the lead-up to their trip, the team visited librarian Zandria Taare at the HB Williams Memorial Library in Gisborne.
Zandria, one of the kaitiaki of an extensive archive left by Ta Apirana Ngata, played a crucial role in guiding the team.
“This meeting was most fortuitous as she held the permissions for the files we were seeking to access in Wellington,” team member Te Rangirangi Tangohau said.
“More importantly, she provided us with solid advice — ‘search and retrieve’. This became the team’s mantra.”
During their five-day visit to Wellington, the team dedicated nearly 460 hours to exploring the archives, accessing Sir Apirana’s files, listening to sound recordings taken by Ngāti Porou kaumatua and Māori education pioneer Koro Dewes, and examining records of the Māori Purposes Board, East Coast Commission, as well as letters, newspaper articles and photographs.
The “gold” for the team was learning about their tīpuna, who they were, what they did and what they wanted for their mokopuna.
It was like finding messages from the past.
“These records are really important for our understanding of the times,” Raewyn Nikora said.
“Our tīpuna didn’t have a lot of resources in those days, so committing to building an elaborately carved house was huge.”
The team included three rangatahi who greatly benefited from the trip.
Te Whaitiri Tangohau-Kakau and mother and textile expert Claudette Collis were particularly interested in the harvesting of kākaho pīngao, and kiekie.
Kākaho is the stem of the toetoe used for lining walls of buildings while pīngao and kiekie are used for weaving.
Te Whaitiri and Claudette learned that much of that resource came from Ōtaki and other rohe.
They were amazed to find the original plans and tukutuku designs for Ruakapanga.
Piki-kotuku Te Moni learned about the scanning equipment in the Alexander Turnbull reading room and marvelled at the amount of whakapapa and pūrākau about Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.
Haki Hamilton learned the hard way about “paper dust”, which is often released when opening books and paper files. Haki found that when it gets into your eyes “it can really sting”.
The staff at the Alexander Turnbull Library and Archives New Zealand were hugely supportive.
Librarian Trish Beamsley and her team worked closely with the researchers to ensure success.
“I would say that anyone can do this research, so don’t be shy,” said Judy Ruru, a first-time visitor to the library.
“Your fellow research whānau were there to help you and the library staff were very helpful as well.”
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (Māori centre of research excellence) co-director and academic Linda Waimarie Nikora joined the team and was impressed at how they went about their research.
“This team exemplify a best practice model for meaningful engagement between libraries and iwi,” she said.
“Archive visits demand thorough preparation and pre-research especially to access and vet in excess of 162 files. That’s huge.”
The Hauiti research team are looking forward to the 100-year celebration of Ruakapanga in 2043.
“It’s really important that the narrative of our whare is passed to the next generation,” senior team member Rawiri Tuhiwai-Ruru said.
He was proud of the iwi-driven team’s professional work ethic, curiosity and shared passion to bring the archival record to life.
“There is real power in collective effort,” Rawiri said. “But there’s even more power when that effort is spread across the generations, as it is in this team.”
So, what’s next for the team?
With most taking annual leave from their day jobs, it was a return to work in places across the North Island.
However, every Wednesday night, they gather via Zoom to connect, strengthen, share and keep on learning.
The team who went to Wellington were Raewyn Nikora, Linda Waimarie Rangiuia Nikora, Te Rangirangi Tangohau, Rawiri Tuhiwai-Ruru, Merearihi Whatuira, Libya Wanoa, Judith Ruru, Selina Noanoa-Burt, Haki Hamilton, Piki-kotuku Te Moni, Karen Kahukoti, Haley Stewart, Claudette Collis, Te Whaitiri Tangohau-Kakau, Julie Noanoa, Crane Amaru, Katrina Thomson and Taina Walters.