Welcome to the Cook Islands Herald

CI Times Weekly | Current Issue 264 | 18 August 2008

Audience enjoys CIRA conference on Marae

Secretary of Culture, Makiuti Tongia set the tone for the CIRA conference with his address entitled: The past, present and future of Marae in the Cook Islands” including the shape, design and location of marae and how they are first established (au te marae).
Marae in ancient days were sacred places and would be located within the ‘Kena o te Tapare’ (bounds of the area) and materials used included coral pebbles, beach pebbles (kirikiri teatea) and basalt slabs (toka Maori) for the Akinanaga (seat of the Ariki, Mataiapo or Rangatia).
The marae could be for the Akaururu (installation of the chief) or other special events in the Tapere, Oire or Vaka and all functions on the marae assigned to a designated person such as the taunga (for the karakia), another in charge of the umukai and so on.
The marae would have its own totems or symbol associated with their Kopu Tangata from nature eg a special animal, bird, marine mammal or fish such as an eke, veri, mango (shark), kakaia, moko, kokopu, mokora and so on.
Signs from nature could foretell special events eg a landslip often meant that something would happen in the Kopu Ariki, or a particular star or constellation might have a special meaning. Special plants were grown on or around the marae such as miro, rauti, tamanu or kava or similar.
Marae were usually found near water eg Orotuma for Kainuku Ariki (Tongia called it Rutuma) near Avana stream but conceded there were also exceptions such as Maungaroa marae for Tinomana Ariki.
From the time of the arrival of LMS missionaries in the 1820s, marae were abandoned in deference to our having stepped out of the Dark (Pokerekere) and into the Light (the Holy Bible).However, in more recent decades, which the Secretary, there has been a resurgence of interest in our marae - not for pagan worship - but in acknowledgment of our ancestors (Ai Tupuna). He questioned our having relegated our ancient folklore and oral tradition to the realm of ‘myths and legends’ (as not really true) instead of being taken as factual as if referring to say, British history.
Tongia said in the past, it would have been usual to establish your credentials by answering the questions as to which is your mountain (Maunga), your harbour (Ava), your Marae, your Ariki and your Punavai?
Anautoa Mataiapo (Teariki Rauru) has a slightly different perspective having established (au te marae) four new marae including one for Tautu Mataiapo Tutara high up on the hills of Puaikura where he used black pebbles to designate certain areas and white pebbles to designate pathways. The new marae also includes a place of honour reserved for Tinomana Ariki to whom Tautu Mataiapo pays tribute.
George Cowan, the chairman of the Cultural and Historic Places Trust also presented a paper on what the government and his committee might do to preserve important cultural places.
Presentations from outside Tumutevarovaro were made by Mataora Harry (Mangaia), Mapu Taia (Mauke), Upokoina Teiotu (Atiu), Julian Aupini (Mitiaro), Paiere Mokoroa (Atiu) and Iva Eitiare (Aitutaki).
But it was not just confined to the Cook Islands with Dr Tamatoa Bambridge presenting his paper on “Oro and his marae in Tahiti Nui”; Prof Jon Jonassen on “Lono in Hawaii’ and Marjorie Crocombe and Ngatuaine Maui on “Te Marae Orongo in Rapanui”.
The audience for both days expressed their great satisfaction at the work that the Research Association was doing toward highlighting our cultural heritage and how much they enjoyed the discussions on the marae nearly all of which were delivered in Maori.

Headlines : Times 264 18 August 2008
- Aere ra Bob, a true friend
- Separate agency to handle nodules revenues?
- Water shortages drive residents to meeting
- New political party to stand for social justice
- PPA Trade Exhibition attracts high calibre companies