Pictures of early Maori a snapshot of district past

Two historical images of Maori in the Masterton district were unveiled in the Frank Cody Lounge of Masterton Town Hall on Wednesday.

Representatives from iwi authorities Rangitane o Wairarapa and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa joined with Masterton district councillors in song at the unveiling of the monochrome images, which will hang alongside seven other historical black and white images of people and places in the district.

Rangitane o Wairarapa kaumatua Jim Rimene, a former Masterton councillor, unveiled an image of the frontage of Nga Tau E Waru wharenui at Te Ore Ore and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

According to the caption that will accompany the wharenui image, which also pictures a group of people standing before the wharenui, prophet Paora Potangaroa had announced he was building a wharenui at Te Ore Ore in 1878 and fellow prophet and master carver Te Kere declared the structure would take eight years to build.

When finished in 1880, the wharenui was named Nga Tau E Waru or The Eight Years. The ornately carved wharenui was destroyed by fire in 1939 and a replacement was built shortly afterwards.

Kahungunu ki Wairarapa board chairman Nelson Rangi unveiled the other image, a George Moore Collection picture which captured a group of Ngai Tumapuhia-a-rangi blade shearers with Kumuroa Witinitara Te Kaewa at the centre.

The caption accompanying the image says Maori had dominated the Wairarapa shearing industry since the 1870s and the picture was taken of the shearers on Eparaima Station near Okautete (Homewood) in the 1890s.

The installation of the two images comes through discussion by the council Maori Caucus and Maori Liason Task Group.

At a meeting of the group in August last year, Jason Kerehi, Rangitane o Wairarapa chief executive and group member, had said the images in the Frank Cody Lounge traced a history of the district and that images of Maori rightly "fit into this context".

He also acknowledged Rawiri Smith, of Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter for their research and selection of a pool of photographs from which the two images were chosen.

Rangitane o Wairarapa cultural advisor Mike Kawana, who lead the unveiling ceremony and waiata, said the "portraits of our past" were historical elements vital to the district.

"We have a proud history and our minds are taken back to all the people and places that came before us.

"That is important and we thank you."

Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell said the two images were a welcome addition to the historical gallery adorning the walls of the Frank Cody Lounge.

"We note the omission that perhaps we had and it's a great opportunity to recognise what has happened in our past."