Waitomo
Education Service
Contact Us: Ph: 07 878 7642 Fax: 07 878 6184 PO Box 12 Waitomo Caves New Zealand education@waitomodiscovery.org
REREAMANU MARAE
E
nga mana, e nga karangatanga maha kei waenganui i a koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena
tatou katoa. E te iwi, tenei te karanga kia haere mai koutou nga kura ki te marae o
Rereamanu.
No
reira, Haere mai, Nau mai, Haere mai.
Greetings, greetings, greetings.
On behalf of the whanau of Rereamanu Marae, we would like to invite you to our marae.
We are situated in the beautiful King country, the rugged land of New Zealand. Our marae has had the privilege of accommodating many other schools, with excellent feedback, so we hope that one day your school will be next.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa.
Na te whanau
Our History
Before
accepting the offer of kingship in 1856, Potatau Te Wherowhero sought the guidance of his
relatives in Ngati Maniapoto. The offer was conveyed to him at a meeting of tribes held at
Pukawa, situated at the southern end of Lake Taupo. 
The
meeting at Haurua was called “Te Puna o Te Roimata” (the well-spring of tears).
The hosts were the chiefs; Te Kanawa, Tuhoro and Hauauru. Tanirau was the spokesperson who
announced to the assembly the decision of the chiefs to support Potatau Te Wherowhero as
King of Tainui, Waikato.
He
crossed the marae to where Potatau sat and proclaimed in a loud voice, “Ko koe hei
kiingi, hei kiingi, hei kiingi” and then placed the hat on his head, which also had
become the symbol of kingship. Potatau looked up and said - “E Ta, kua to te
ra!” “O Ta (Tanirau), the sun is about to set!”- meaning that he had not
much longer to live.
Tanirau
replied, “E to ana i te ahiahi, e era ana i te ata, E tu koe he kiingi” “It
sets in the evening, to rise again in the morning, thou art has raised up a King.”
At
length Potatau replied, “E pai ana.” “It is good.”
Potatau then addressed the assembly and sang his song of sorrow, that he must assume the burden of kingship in his old age.
Guidelines for Visitors
Powhiri (Welcome
Ceremony):
Please
contact Lynn Green, phone
(07)878 5191 or fax (07)878 5131 to finalise details for dates,
numbers, arrival time, other queries. A korero on the history of the marae and area is
available.
Bookings and Payment:
Please
make cheques payable to Rereamanu Marae. All bookings to be made through the Education
Officer, Waitomo Museum of Caves. Ph: (07)8787642, Fax: (07)8786184.
What to bring:
·
all food
supplies, sharp knives, rubbish bags, detergent, disinfectant, liquid scourer, toilet
paper
·
sleeping bag,
bottom sheet, pillow case
·
a freezer is
available
Costs:
·
$7.00 per
person per night (Kapu tii will be provided by the marae following the powhiri and after
that, all schools will be responsible for preparing and cooking their own meals)
Whare Tupuna (Sleeping
House): Please respect this area by
·
removing all
footwear before entering
·
playing and
eating outside (no food or drinks inside)
·
taking care
not to walk over the mattresses or sit on the pillows
·
keeping all
personal gear neatly packed away
·
leaving the
Whare Tupuna as you found it
·
vacuumming
daily
Play
Areas:
·
for your
safety, please stay within the tin fenced area unless other arrangements have been made
with the whanau of the marae
· please take care of young plants/gardens/trees as many have been gifts
planted by other visitors to the marae
Whare Kai (Kitchen and Dining Room): Please respect this area by
·
leaving it
clean and tidy at all times
·
keeping
benches and sinks clear of dishes and sweeping the floor daily
·
lighting the
furnace fire for hot water when necessary (wood at back of marae)
·
washing and
hanging out used tea towels on leaving
·
eating all
meals in the dining room
·
ensuring that
the dining room is not used as sleeping quarters
Whare Iti (Ablution Block):
lution Block):
Please respect this area by
·
cleaning it
daily and disposing of any rubbish appropriately
email us at: education@waitomodiscovery.org 16/01/2008