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Interior of Nuku Te Apiapi; CP-1905

Interior of Nuku Te Apiapi, CP-1905
FromRotorua Museum of Art & History, Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa
Name/Title
Interior of Nuku Te Apiapi
About this object
View of the poutokomanawa inside of Nuku Te Apiapi.
Place Made
New Zealand
Medium and Materials
Photographic print
Measurements
114 x 115mm
Credit Line
Photographic Collection, Rotorua Museum of Art & History
Object Type
Photograph
Object number
CP-1905

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Results from DigitalNZ

The carved house Nuku Te Apiapi was begun about the year 1873 when Aramakaraka te Mokonui-a-rangi was chief of the Ngaati Rangitihi tribe at Matata, in the Bay of Plenty. The carvers employed were Tara Te Awatapu (also called Te Amo Awatapu) and his pupil Wero Taroi (also known as Karu); both were of the Ngaati Taraawhai tribe of Rotoiti. 1. The carvers worked in the Bay of Plenty under the direction of Aramakaraka, and for eight years were occupied in carving the interior poupou or wooden slabs supporting the roof. At about that time the old chief, Aramakaraka, died, leaving his daughter, Ngaarangikaki, to see to the completion of the work. Ngaarangikaki later married a chief named Hemana Te Wehi-o-te-rangi and this chief saw that work on the carvings was resumed. Eventually, however, he found that he no longer had sufficient food or means to continue paying Te Amo, the carver. Hemana therefore decided to visit Te Pokiha, otherwise known as Major Fox, and place the whole matter before him in the hope that he might be induced to advance the money necessary for the project. But Pohika was unable to grant the money and Hemana returned to his pa very downhearted and next morning was found dead in his whare. The carvings were then on the beach at Matata and, as it was believed a chief had died because of them, the tohunga of the tribe placed them under the ban of tapu. A shelter was built to protect them from the weather, and there they remained until the year 1900. Te Waru, chief of the Ngaati Whaoa, who lived at the foot of Paeroa Mountain, began Rauru as a carved house in honour of his young and beautiful wife. Under the laws of tapu no food must come near a carved house during its construction and smoking is also prohibited since tobacco is regarded as food ( kai paipa ). Te Waru transgressed this law by entering the building while smoking his pipe. An old tohunga advised that it would not be prudent to go on with the building, but Te Waru took no notice and...
Historical Notes On The Carved House Nuku Te Apiapi (Journal of the Polynesian Society)
The University of Auckland Library
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