A new carved tomokanga (entrance way) at the front of NorthTec's Te Puna o te Mātauranga marae has been officially blessed, named and opened at a dawn ceremony.
More than 150 NorthTec staff, students and members of the community students joined tohunga, Te Warihi Heteraka, at the 5am event on Wednesday.
The tomokanga was named Te Puna o Te Huinga Manu, meaning The Spring for the Gathering of the Birds. The name was chosen by a group of kaumātua, kuia and rangatira who represent the mana whenua of inner city Whangārei.
Te Puna o Te Huinga Manu sits in front of the marae and the two buildings are linked by an ātea (forecourt). The tomokanga, ātea and meeting house together form the official entryway into NorthTec.
The exterior of Te Puna o Te Huinga Manu is decorated with wooden carvings created by NorthTec's whakairo (carving) students on the Maunga Kura Toi – Bachelor of Māori Arts programme. Their work was supervised by Mike Looker, former NorthTec carving tutor.