The Waitangi Treaty Grounds overlooking the Bay of Islands, is New Zealand's pre-eminent historic site. It is a place of belonging and enjoyment that is central to the life of the nation and special to all New Zealanders.
It was here on February 6th, 1840, that the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between Maori and the British Crown
Te Whare RunangaTo commemorate the gift of the Bledisloes, Sir Apirana Ngata, with Tau Henare, initiated plans for a carved Maori meeting house to be built on the Treaty Grounds. Te Whare Runanga, named Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was presented to the people of New Zealand on the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6th February 1940.
This photo shows the inside of the meeting house. (Click on the photo to make it larger)
HinemihiUnder a big old oak tree, in Clandon Park, Surrey, England stands a "little part of NZ", in the form a old carved whare (meeting house) called Hinemihi o te ao tawhito, which was built in 1880. After the Mt Tarawera eruption in 1886, the whare was purchased for 50 pound, by the Governor of NZ, Earl William Hiller Onslow, dismantled and taken to England in 1891. The whare was one of the only buildings left at Te Wairoa village, which was almost destroyed by the eruption and which killed over 150 people. One of the two carvers, Tene Waitere and his wife took shelter in the whare with 50 other people during the eruption. The eruption also destroyed The Pink & White Terraces, then known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Hinemihi, which became an attraction in England for thousands of visitors as well as a beacon for Britain's maori community is going to be restored to its former glory as time has gradually decayed the whare. Jim Schuster, one of the carvers helping with the restoration, is a great-great grandson, of Tene Waitere.
Te Wairoa Today
The site of Te Wairoa today is known as the Buried Village and as a tourist attraction is well worth visiting if you are ever in the area.
