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A handwritten caption on the original print reads as follows: “Erected for the visit of the Maori King Tawhia (sic) in the latter seventies…” The statement about the purpose of the construction appears to be correct, but the date of the visit was 1883 (see report in Manawatu Daily Times 27 January 1883). Identified as “Te Iwa Tekau” (literally 90 feet), a large marae at Awahuri said to have been 90 feet in length. The correct spelling is "Tawhiao". This meeting house was located on the east bank of the Oroua River, a few chains south of the main highway between Palmerston North and Bulls. The house fell into disrepair during the early 20th century and was blown down in the great gale of 1936. The small wharepuni alongside was damaged by the falling building and subsequently demolished. Building on the far left was the cookhouse/dining hall. The house faces the main road, river on right of the photograph. There is Tukutuku work and Kowhaituhai inside the house, says Tony Cribb of Awahuri (15/11/1971), but no carving. The house is 99 feet long and known simply as "Te Iwa".

Identification

Object type
Image
Digitisation ID
2008N_Tw2-4_TWH_1940
Title
Meeting house at Awahuri
Relation
Public Photograph Collection Tw 2-4
Held In
Coolstore

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Creation

Created By
Place
Awahuri
Date
circa 1882 to circa March 1883

Object rights

Credit Line
Palmerston North City Library

Taxonomy

Tags
awahuri,
photographs,
tangata whenua,
Community Tags
marae,
tangata,
wharenui,

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Related items

Meeting house at Awahuri
Highden Manor Estate, Awahuri
Bridge over the Oroua River at Awahuri
'Highden', Green Road, Awahuri
'Highden', Green Road, Awahuri
Pascal families at 'Brooklands' homestead, Awahuri
Sheep on the Feilding-Awahuri Road, 1904
Plan for a House near Awahuri
L. G. West & Son, Additions and Alterations to a Residence at Awahuri
Te Rangihaeata
Ko Mac Whakamoe e wero ana
Tokotoru nga wahine

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