Tuahiwi Marae

Tuahiwi takes its name from the ridge that runs from the Kaiapoi township through to Rangiora. That ridge is where the Tuahiwi roadway now runs and our people have traditionally built upon that ridge rather than the lower lying areas that were prone to flooding.
The first whare was Tū-te-kawa, and was built in 1859. Tū-te-kawa suffered from a serious fire in 1872. Despite the fire our people continued to use the whare through 1879. In 1880 a new whare called Tū-āhu-riri was built as an adjoining whare to Tū-te-kawa. However two months later a storm struck and Tū-āhu-riri was lifted off its foundations.
The hall was replaced with a new and larger building. That building retained the name Tū-āhu-riri, and remained as the local meeting house through to the building of a new whare our elders named Maahunui, which was opened in 1922.
Maahunui takes its name from the canoe of our shared ancestor, Māui-tikitiki-a-Te Raka, while our kī kōpū is named Te Ao Marama, as in the world of light and enlightenment.
Maahunui ll and Te Ao Marama, opened 1 December 2012. Maahunui II was then extended and reopened 24 November 2017 with a midnight unveiling of a new mahau named Hutika after the late Hutika Huria who was the kaikaranga for Tuahiwi, a pere named Makere after the first ‘Kaitiaki o te Pere’ hailing from Te Waipounamu, a new ngutu named Rakiihia after the late Ūpoko Rakiihia Tau and finally a memorial wall named Te Kereme o Ngāi Tahu in recognition of all who fought for our rights during the Ngāi Tahu Claim.
Tuahiwi Marae is a contemporary purpose built complex designed to meet the needs of our Tuahiwi people.
The first whare was Tū-te-kawa, and was built in 1859. Tū-te-kawa suffered from a serious fire in 1872. Despite the fire our people continued to use the whare through 1879. In 1880 a new whare called Tū-āhu-riri was built as an adjoining whare to Tū-te-kawa. However two months later a storm struck and Tū-āhu-riri was lifted off its foundations.
The hall was replaced with a new and larger building. That building retained the name Tū-āhu-riri, and remained as the local meeting house through to the building of a new whare our elders named Maahunui, which was opened in 1922.
Maahunui takes its name from the canoe of our shared ancestor, Māui-tikitiki-a-Te Raka, while our kī kōpū is named Te Ao Marama, as in the world of light and enlightenment.
Maahunui ll and Te Ao Marama, opened 1 December 2012. Maahunui II was then extended and reopened 24 November 2017 with a midnight unveiling of a new mahau named Hutika after the late Hutika Huria who was the kaikaranga for Tuahiwi, a pere named Makere after the first ‘Kaitiaki o te Pere’ hailing from Te Waipounamu, a new ngutu named Rakiihia after the late Ūpoko Rakiihia Tau and finally a memorial wall named Te Kereme o Ngāi Tahu in recognition of all who fought for our rights during the Ngāi Tahu Claim.
Tuahiwi Marae is a contemporary purpose built complex designed to meet the needs of our Tuahiwi people.
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