- Maori Meeting House
The Maori Meeting House, or “Wharenui is the main building in a traditional village. Wharenui reflected in the large house. It is located just opposite the “marae”, a sacred place or city from the Maori community.
It consists of a land particularly clear, which serves the religious and social purposes. The marae is a term now often refers to both the construction and location. And ‘the most important place in the cultural calendar of the Maori people and society.
The Maori meeting house continues to play an important role in modern society. It is a common meeting place for cultural activities, the practice of the Maori language, and the holding of traditional ceremonies, among many other issues and practices.
Many cultural activities and crafts are practiced in the meeting place, such as wood carving and weaving. And ‘the meeting place, and birthdays, weddings, funerals, baptisms and tribal rituals are held.
Although the marae can vary in size, there are several distinctive features that are common to all the marae. The key is “paepae” speaker dock, which is used in sacred rituals and ceremonies. The dining room is called “wharekai” is where all meals are taken and organize joint activities.
The Hangi, traditional cooking techniques are still practiced by Maori on the marae. It gives a lot of food for large groups of people. The hangi is a natural oven consists of a hole in the ground where hot stones are placed.
The food is cooked in the hole, as they are and vegetables. Then covered with leaves and sprinkled with water before re-cover with soil. The food will cook for several hours.
The marae is still considered a sacred place of cultural importance and ceremonies where important discussions take place, such as “powhiri”, a traditional welcoming ceremony, which combines features of oratory.
Diction (“whaikorero) taught marae. It consists of making the teaching of speech. This is an important skill is subject to particular rituals surrounding the traditional ceremony that includes an important part of Maori culture and history of the tribal people.
Telling the story is an important part of Maori culture. The tradition continues today marae practiced practiced and taught. And ‘through’, singing songs and stories, legends and tribal history disclosed.
Traditional protocols are both taken up and maintained to the marae. The protocols are carefully detailed and followed on marae called “Kawa”. They differ from one tribe to another and dictate the rules to be adopted by residents and visitors.
All the visitor is considered a Maori meeting place for guests (“manuhiri ‘) that the owners (” tangata WhenU “). Older people are the authorities, are both respected and cherished. The cultural and traditional knowledge transferred to new generations.