Hundreds of people are expected to gather at NorthTec's Raumanga campus early on Monday morning, when the refurbished whare hui will be officially opened with a dawn ceremony.
The new-look whare at Te Puna o Te Matauranga (The Spring of Knowledge) marae complex will be the most contemporary in Northland and unique within New Zealand, featuring modern artworks combined with carvings and weaving. The design work has been project managed by renowned Maori artist and NorthTec Maori Arts tutor, Kura Te Waru-Rewiri.
Te Waru-Rewiri has contributed a number of artworks which will adorn the whare walls, with other artworks painted by fellow Maori Arts tutor, Lorraine King, and writer and artist, Michael Rewiri-Thorsen.
Tai Tokerau master carver, Te Warihi Hetaraka, created the carvings on the front face of the building. NorthTec carving tutor, James Te Kuiti Stewart, along with NorthTec Maori Arts students, Michael Cameron and Kawiti Wiremu, and former Applied Arts student, Akara Maihi, contributed the carvings inside the whare hui. A large team of weavers, led by NorthTec weaving tutor, Te Hemoata Henare, has been hard at work creating wall decorations.
NorthTec chief executive Paul Binney said the opening of the whare hui would be a proud day for the organisation.
