‘Te herenga waka o Orewa marae : a praxis of Māori sovereignty reclamation in a community space’ : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Mātauranga Māori at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
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2023
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Massey University
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Abstract
Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae was formerly opened to the public of The Hibiscus and Bays Communities in 2017. It is a community marae that was established by Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Incorporated Society as a cultural font of knowledge and resource for all Hibiscus and Bays community residents, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender. In terms of a Māori position, it is a ‘community marae’ established by Māori for ngā hau e whā.47 Concurrent with this inclusive philosophy, Mana Motuhake Māori48, Te Reo Māori me Wōna Tikanga49 underpin all facets of its operation and day to day functions. Within this urban landscape, this translates as an educational marae, a praxis of contemporary Māori lifestyle today. It is a living, breathing, fully functioning marae, where the Māori language and culture are shared, taught and practiced daily. Despite being a relative newcomer to the terrain of urban marae, it has already proven itself to be a valid contributor to the Māori cultural education of the Hibiscus and Bays Communities. Administratively it has demonstrated itself as a financially sustainable marae model, with an organisational structure that continues to be effective in managing its daily operations, whilst dually honouring its cultural traditions. From a Kaupapa Māori50 theoretical underpinning, this writing will look to expound Māori Sovereignty Reclamation and its embodiments within the context of our community marae journey. Māori Sovereignty Reclamation hypothetically draws from an indigenous sovereignty position and draws from the fact that Rangatira Māori never willingly ceded sovereignty at either the signing of Te Hakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni51, in 1835 or Te Tiriti o Waitangi52 in 1840. Within the journeying to become a marae I have a learnt a number of valuable lessons that I hope to share in the prospect that it may find relativity to kindred Kaupapa Māori organisations53 exploring their own self-determination struggle. The story about the establishment of this marae is a story that spans a period of forty years and has been a roller-coaster ride of experiences and emotions. I admit that I did not have all the answers prior to, and during the establishment ot this marae, but suggest that my multiple experiences throughout the expedition has been a reliable tutor. This piece of qualitative research involves a recounting of the marae story to lay a framework on which Kaupapa Māori methodology54 will be applied to draw from that history, personal pūrākau55 lessons. Some of these lessons will be critically examined through a transformative praxis lens with the goal of gaining a better understanding of what Māori Sovereignty Reclamation is, in terms of this organisations journey to establish a community marae.