: Te Wharenui — Meeting House
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Approach: One to one  
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Focus:   Students can name and explain the meaning or significance of structures ina traditional Mäori meeting house. 
Resources:  4 pictures: meeting house, poutokomanawa, kowhaiwhai, tukutuku.  
Questions/instructions:
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuatahi.

Ko Tükäkï tënei, tëtahi o ngä wharenui e tü ana i Te Kaha, i
te rohe o Te Whänau a Apanui. E kite ana koe i öna wähanga maha. Ka tirohia ëtahi wähanga o te wharenui hei körerorero mäu.

Show picture 1.

This is a picture of the meeting house, called Tükaki, on the East Coast. You can see that it has many interesting parts. We’ll look at some of the parts inside of the house, and I’ll ask you to tell me what you know about them.  		 
 
% responses
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuarua.

He pikitia tënei o tëtahi tino wähanga o roto i te wharenui.

Show picture 2: Poutokomanawa

This picture shows an important part inside the meeting house.

1. E möhio ana koe ki te ingoa o tënei wähanga?

Do you know what this part is called?

named the part “poutokomanawa”

16
named the part “a carving”

10
2. Ki töu whakaaro, i mahia mai i te aha?

What do you think this is made from?
identified material as wood

90
3. He tino wähanga tënei o te wharenui. He aha ai?

Why is this an important part of this meeting house?
represents ancestors
(and their importance to the community)

21
welcomes guests entering the house

9
the heart of the meeting house

11
central support/post of the house

45
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuatoru.

He pikitia tënei o tëtahi wähanga anö o te wharenui.

Show picture 3: Kowhaiwhai

This picture shows another part of the meeting house.

4. E möhio ana koe ki te ingoa o tënei wähanga?

Do you know what this is called?
named the part “kowhaiwhai”

18
named the part “heke”

4
5. Ki töu whakaaro, i mahia mai i te aha?

What do you think this is made from?
paint/dyes

38
wood

94
6. He tino wähanga tënei o te wharenui. He aha ai?

Why is this an important part of this meeting house?
genealogy, descent, whakapapa

13
ribs of ancestors

40
tells a story

9
Whakaaturia te pikitia tuawhä.

He pikitia tënei o tëtahi wähanga anö o te wharenui.


Show picture 4: Tukutuku

This picture shows another part of the meeting house.

7. E möhio ana koe ki te ingoa o tënei wähanga?

Do you know what this is called?
named the part “tukutuku”

30
named the part “a (woven) wall panel”

0
named the part “pakiwaitara” (story board)

2
8. Ki töu whakaaro, i mahia mai i te aha?

What do you think this is made from?
traditional materials
(e.g. pingao/sand/sedge, harakeke/flax)

48
modern alternative materials
(e.g. wool, leather, plastic, raffia, string)

29
9. He tino wähanga tënei o te wharenui. He aha ai?

Why is this an important part of this meeting house?
balances the efforts/contributions of woman and man

0
traditionally symbolises working together/relationships

2
balances/separates carvings

4
embellishment/sign of the industriousness of makers

4
tells a story

26
Commentary: 
The results provide useful information about the extent of students' knowledge of the meaning or significance of structures in a traditional Mäori meeting house.
 
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