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    The Māori Gateway to Lincoln University : Te Paepae Tapu a Rākaihautū. (2005)

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    Te Paepae Tapu a Rakaihautu
    The Maori gateway to Lincoln University

    Te Paepae Tapu a Rakaihautu

    Aformal Maori pa gateway, or entrance, stands in the The f[...]try in the Forbes Tower of Lincoln is called Te Tiritiri o te Moana (The White Crest of the Waves)
    University. It marks the entrance or threshold ofTe Whare which also takes its origins from the Waitaha traditions. Te
    Wan aka o Aoraki (The House of Learning of Aoraki) and is Tiritiri o te Moan a follows the fault line that runs through the
    called Te Paepae Tapu a Rakaihautu (The Sacred Threshold of South Island which is commonly known today as the Southern
    Rakaihautu). Alps.
    This masterpiece of traditional Maori carving was executed The extreme left hand tekoteko is Te Puka o te Waka o Aoraki
    in kauri by master carver George Vincent Edwards, Kai Tahu ([...]cceptance of Lincoln University as Mother). After a fruitless search they decided to return back
    a[...]for the education of young to the Universe (note: Aoraki also means 'Universe'). In order
    Maori, a[...]s well as other to return they had to recite karakia (ancient incantations).
    students, staff a[...]e South Island. Aoraki and his
    The work was completed and installed in the year 1995, with[...]The anchor is the mountain Maukatere (Mount Grey).
    Tahu Kaumatua.
    The second tekoteko is Te Ruahikihiki, who was the tip una
    Representations within Te Paepae Tapu a (ancestor) of the people of the Taumutu area beside Te Waihora[...]Ellesmere) and Oruaka Pa beside Lake Forsyth. The
    Rakaihautu last manaia is the Mairehe who is the protector of the caves
    The tekoteko (the figure at the apex of the carving) is TU Te on Banks Peninsula that contain sacred ancest[...]the
    first Maori to settle in the South Island. TOTe Rakihaunoa's The Amo
    deeds as a deity are pr[...]tribes.

    The koruru depicts the leading ancestor, Rakaihautu, who The right hand amo at the base depi[...]es to the South of the senior bloodlines after whom the hapu (subtribe) of
    Island. The name of the koruru is Te Waha Korero o Rakaihautu Tliahuriri is named. His origins are of Kai Tahu, originating
    (The Mouthpiece of Rakaihautu) implying that the customs, from the Taki[...]ocols of the Waitaha people should be protector is Kahukura (the Rainbow God, and also the sacred
    given voice as Rakaihautu gave form, shape and definition to altar). K[...]aitaha cultivation of kumara in the Canterbury Region.
    traditions record that Rakaihautu arrived from the Universe The left hand amo depicts the ancestor Moki aTe Ruahikihiki
    in his celestial canoe called Uruao.[...]of the subtribal group and Runaka atTaumutu.
    constellation and means 'to enter the world of light'.
    The Pare (Lintel)
    The Maihi
    This is situated beneath the centre of the mai hi. The sacred
    Thi[...]tspread arms mountain, Aoraki, is depicted in the centre with guardian
    supporting the tekoteko at its apex, and depicts manaia figures on either side protecting Lakes Pukaki, Tekapo and Te
    figures that are presented as the spiritual guardians of the Kete Ika a Rakaihautu (Ellesmere). Te Puna Matataki is the
    Waitaha traditions. These guardians protect the mauri sacred waters located on Aoraki and these waters are used
    (physical life principle) and watch ov[...]ners).
    mountains, rivers, lakes, landforms etc. After Aoraki and his
    brothers, followed by Tu Te Rakihaunoa and Rakaihautu, had
    created the physical features of the South Island they p[...]e Gray. Kaumatua, Kai Tahu.
    place the guardian protectors to ensure the wellbeing of the
    mauri of thei[...]maihi, the extreme right
    hand manaia is Tawhirimatea (the God ofthe Wind). The
    second tekoteko (effigy) from the right is Te Haunui, guardian
    of the children of the wind. The third tekoteko is the Mairehe,
    the guardian of lakes an[...]
    [...]Tekoteko (effigy) of[...]Tu Te Rakihaunoa




    Te Paepae Tapu a Rakaihautu[...]ancestor Rakaihautu)[...]AMairehe who is protector of the caves[...]vers
    Te Ruahikihiki, ancestor of the people of the[...]Te Haunui- guardian of
    Taumutu area beside Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere),[...]d Oruaka Pa beside Lake Forsyth.
    Te Puka o te Waka o Aoraki- the[...]Tiiwhirimatea
    anchor of the canoe of Aoraki[...]protector[...]Pukaki,Tekapo, and Te Kete Ika Amo (support for maihi) in Canterbury[...]a Rakaihautu (Ellesmere)
    The ancestor
    Moki aTe[...]Double spirals indicate
    group and[...]bodies indicate the[...]potential for creation that the line[...]Hand in or near mouth indicates pregnancy[...]Pare (lintel) illustrating the ancest[...]depicting the first state of[...]being (Te Kore-nothingness)[...]Whakarare (crossover pattern) ,iii!~~~~~~~~~i;i;~,?~---[...]Single spirals indicate that this part[...]Reversed chevrons indicate that the lintel[...]represents Te Ao Mara rna (the World of Light)
    The Interpretation of Maori Carving

    The history, symbolis[...]i The symbolic language of carving depicted how the world
    carving) is an involved and huge subject for contemplation, came to be, and the part played in this by the various gods
    and this text can be only a brief introduction. Numbers of[...]it beings.
    renowned scholars have studied and written on the subject.
    Convention tended to determine the location of each form
    I have derived much of my material from David Simmons'[...]present to a
    "Whakairo, Maori Tribal Art", reprinted in 1987 by Oxford
    greater or lesser degree in most carvings.
    University Press, but also found Hirini M. Mead's "Te Toi
    Whakairo, The Art of Maori Carving", reprinted in 1995 by Thus the carvings on war cano[...]& A.W.Reed, to be particularly useful. Both these texts with how the world came into being, whereas meeting
    should be consulted for further insight. Both contain houses, both on the poupou (inside wall panels), and on
    intimate detail of tribal styles and commonly used motifs.[...]by Roger Neich ancestors of the tribe.
    and Terence Barrow.[...]or prow piece
    Since Maori had no tradition of written word, the carving of consisted of three areas, the first being a horizontal sla[...]estry. Prior to the mid- of the underworld (Te Rarohenga). The upper surface of
    ninteenth century the waka taua (war canoe) was the mai[...]rth
    vehicle for such carving, but by the 1870's inter-tribal strife Mother, and Ranginui, the Sky Fa[...]ertical tracery with two spirals; a figure
    Thereafter the pataka (food storehouse) assumed greater in the middle and a figure at each end[...]the other two figures, represented the three children of
    With the advent of colonis[...]Papa and Rangi, liberated byTane, the God of the Forest,
    growing of European crops in the latter decades of the 19th
    after he forced their parents apart to allow light int[...]world and to enable the third and present state of the world,
    Consequently the use of pataka declined and these became that ofTe Ao Marama (The World of Light) to come into
    repla[...]de strake.
    carvings in wood. In addition smaller items like waka huia
    These were alternately carved with manaia (spirit beings)
    (boxes for t[...]and human masks. Manaia, which often look like a bird with
    bones of deceased relative[...]protective benevolent beings but may sometimes be
    matau (fish hooks) and hei tiki (protective talismen) were[...]stern post). This consisted of spiral lattice work with two
    Maori, who were[...]e base.
    whare ronanga or first house of learning. Teaching
    commenced at an early age and continued until puberty. These ribs represented the two states of man -Ira Atua and
    Districts and tribes develo[...]as a deceased ancestor,
    there was considerable interchange of both craftsmen and and that of[...]attached to two manaia. The one at the top
    The late 1880's and the first decade of the 20th century s[...]a spirit messenger from the god of immortal life, Te
    the emergence of the so called "painted" meeting houses Hokioi, while the one[...]rms. Sometimes
    even recent ancestors were represented by paintings. This
    was an experimentation and borrowing of pakeha convention
    and materials by some Maori craftsmen.
    Carvings fall into[...]e covering
    genealogy, in which ancestors are depicted.
    [...]he start of the 19th century the "marae" or
    supported at the ends by amo. It had a small door in the[...]front ofthe chief's dwelling, which
    middle surmounted by a large figure, and across the bottom w[...]Since the mid
    of the front was a wide board -the paepae or threshold. 1800's however, the meetin[...]become the
    Usually each maihi or bargeboard depicted a whale, with a ceremonial and hence carv[...]n for
    the tail flukes towards the gable apex. The paepae usually visitors.
    had seven stylised human[...]itself represents the common
    The figures represented the seven principles of existence[...]f the rigepole,
    constituting man in his second state, that is, Ira Tangata.
    and often with a full figure (tekoteko) above. The ridgepole
    These are Wisdom, Life, P[...]oho or belly. The ridgepole in the porch is
    was often a deified ancestor in the first state of existence
    often carved with Papa and Rangi (iftheirfeetaretogether),
    (Te Kore- The Nothingness). Small figures either side[...]his son. Just inside the door the poutahu
    represented the dual principles oflra Tangata (the human[...]The poutuarongo (rear pillar) often depicts the line of
    man as yet unborn. The heavi[...]descent from the main ancestor. Rafters connect the poupou
    on one side of the doorway depicted the gods or beings of[...]llpanels) with the ridgepole, thus connecting the
    Te Po (the second state- Darkness) in a state of turmoil[...]n these with the ancestral line (the
    during and after the separation of Rangi and Papa. The[...]ridgepole). Both rafters and ridgepole are decorated with
    Protectors (gods, spirit beings and deified ancestors)[...]kowhaiwhai patterns based on the appearance of gourd
    depicted on the other side.
    tendrils and stems. Outside, the bargeboards are supported
    This idea of a foodstore has seen Banks Peninsular alluded by amo depicting protectors of the tribe, who may be
    to as the Pataka of Canterbury, such was the richness of ancestors or gods from Te Po, in which case they have
    the sea life and bird[...]ed up to the genital area. The ridgepole is supported
    by several posts inside, which often have ancestors carved[...]Above the doorway is situated the pare (lintel), which may[...]be carved to depict any one of the three states of being-
    Te Kore (the Nothingness), Te Po (the Darkness), or Te Ao[...]There has been debate worldwide as to the artistic merit[...]or otherwise of what might be termed "folk art" or "craft".[...]However I believe that the international aclaim for the[...]in "Te Maori", reinforces the view that tradition[...]

    MD

    <p>An information booklet produced about Te Paepae Tapu a Rākaihautū by George Edwards, a formal Māori pa gateway, or entrance, that stands in the reception are[...]University. It marks the entrance or threshold of Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki (The House of Learning of Aoraki) and is called Te Paepae Tapu
    Te Paepae Tapu a Rakaihautu