Tauranga Moana Heritage - 2023 April

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President's Letter 3 Your new Committee 4

News from Mana Whenua 8

Peri Reweti Kohu (1951-2022) 9

Peter McTainsh (1924-2022) 10

News from the Guides 11

Cyclone Gabrielle Clean-Up 12

Shirley Arabin Recordings 13

Highlights from the Committee 14

150 Years Ago 15

Tamateapōkaiwhenua Carved Meeting House & Dining Room 16

New Discoveries 21

Journals from the Past 22

Brain’s Cottage (est 1879) 23

Snippits from the Blog 25

Friends of the Brain Watkins House Museum 26

Editor: Debbie McCauley (sponsored by Mauao Publishing) ISSN 2816-0835

Please email us if you have notices or contributions: tauranga historical@gmail com

The opinions of contributors to this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Tauranga Historical Society

Tauranga Historical Society Inc. (est.

1951)

Annual subscription $40 per household | Bank a/c: 03 1355 0660053 00

Brain Watkins House Museum (est. 1881) | Open House: Sundays 2-4pm, $5 entry, children free Listed Historic Place Category 2 | 07-578 1835 | tauranga historical@gmail com 233 Cameron Road, Tauranga, Aotearoa New Zealand, 3110 | PO Box 112, Tauranga 3144 Hall Hire: $30 half day | $50 full day | bwhallusers233@gmail com

Cover Image: Katherine Madill in the hallway of Brain Watkins House Museum during the Vintage Garden Party, 2022 Image Credit: Sarah Webb.

Cadbury box containing buttons Brain Watkins Collection (Object No. 2004/0371)

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Dear Members & Supporters,

Thank you so much for your support of the Society and Brain Watkins House Museum as we walk backwards into the future with our eyes fixed on the past | kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. This whakataukī or ‘proverb’ speaks to Māori perspectives of time, where the past, the present and the future are viewed as intertwined, and the past is central to and shapes both present and future identity.

In February Cyclone Gabrielle lashed much of the country and earthquakes have followed - we send our aroha to those badly affected This has led me to reflect on the storms that the Brain family weathered at Brain Watkins House during their 98-year residency. One that does tickle my fancy, but would have been incredibly frightening, was the violent eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 During this time, the Brain family's terrified horse was brought inside the hallway of the house for it's own safety.

This is just one of the many stories that make our house museum a unique and treasured taonga for which we are merely acting as kaitiaki - carers, guardians, protectors and conservers We hope you enjoy this new format newsletter from your committee.

- Debbie McCauley

Plaster, wax and fabric dolls Brain Watkins Collection (Object No. 2004/0394)

He taonga tuku iho Treasures passed down to us from the ancestors

YOUR NEW COMMITTEE

You new committee is full of fresh, friendly & positive faces keen to get on with the preservation, interpretation & promotion of both Brain Watkins House Museum and the history of Tauranga Moana. We are enthusiastic, energetic & diverse people with a wide range of networks in our local community. We hope you will enjoy working with us!

Debbie McCauley: President

After 18 years of experience as a Heritage Librarian, award-winning author and businesswoman Debbie McCauley is passionate about our local history and her work as a Heritage Consultant and Indie Publisher Her ancestors arrived in New Zealand in 1841, at Katikati in 1875, and many are buried in Tauranga cemeteries "I love the quirky aspects of Brain Watkins House, the names & little faces in the decorations, the hidden aspects and storytelling that go along with it I also appreciate that the collection is an important contribution to the often sadly lacking area of women's history locally, nationally and internationally "

Buddy Mikaere: Ngāi Tamarāwaho Representative Ngāi Tamarāwaho representative Buddy Mikaere (Ngāti Pūkenga | Ngāti Ranginui) has a BA (First Class Honours) from Canterbury University and a Diploma in Industrial Psychology from Victoria University. He started as Director with the Waitangi Tribunal in 1990 and has written extensively on Māori history. He is currently part of the Ngāi Tamarāwaho Environmental and Development Unit which, among other events, hosts the Waitangi Day Festival in Tauranga.

Kiaoratatou,IwishtothankthemembersoftheTaurangaHistoricalSocietyforyourendorsementatthe SpecialGeneralMeetingonSunday19March2023,andthemandatetobringtheSocietyforwardsintothe 21stCentury HistoricalSocietiesaroundtheworldaretodayfacingextinctionaspeoplearenolonger signinguptosupportthemorvolunteeringtheirtimeoncommittees Weareatacrossroads,with dwindlingmembership,lowerattendance,underfunding,volunteerfatigue,andfewerhoursofavailable timetoengage WeneedtodevelopaStrategicPlan,becomemorerelevanttoourcommunity,createa sustainablemodelforthefuture,andshowourappreciationtothosewhoalreadygiftsomuchtimetothe Society.Asyouwillappreciatethereismuchworktodotorevivetheorganisation,andchangewillbe necessaryfortheSocietyinorderforustosurvive,thrive,andbecomeavibrantcentreofcommunitylife Smallhistoricalsocietieslikeoursplayanimportantroleinthepreservation,interpretation,and promotionofoursharedhistory.WiththenewAotearoaNewZealand'shistoriescurriculumwehavea wonderfulopportunitytoengageteachersandstudentsandshowcaseouruniquehousemuseumand heritagegarden,makingourlocalhistorymoreaccessible,morerelevant,andmoreuseful.Raising visitation,deepeningengagement,andimprovingoutcomeswillbecrucialforoursurvival

Ournewteamwillworktogetherinanenvironmentofmutualrespect,trust,andkindness Ihopeyouwill cometoknowandappreciateournewcommitteemembersasIdo,andtoembracethefreshthinkingand ideasthattheybringtothetable,whilealsoappreciatingalltheknowledgeofourlong-standingmembers, aswithyoursupportwelooktothefuturewhileappreciatingourpast

-Ngāmihinui,DebbieMcCauley(Sunday19March2023)

YOUR NEW COMMITTEE

Meg Jones: vice-President

Meg is the Strategic Communications Director and co-owner of awardwinning communications agency, The Shine Collective, based in Tauranga and Rotorua. Passionate about sustainability and education, she has a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Dist.) and a Bachelor of Business Studies, as well as ‘ancient’ accounting qualifications. She’s currently enrolled at the University of Cambridge (UK) on their Business Sustainability Management programme. Meg has spent more than 20 years honing her skills as communication and marketing practitioner with senior roles in tertiary education, health informatics and B2B.

Diane Bain: Treasurer

Diane is an Accountant and the director of Adexus Accounting Ltd with 35 years experience in accounting and 18 years enjoying her own accounting practice. Diane has focused on always establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with her clients which has resulted in many clients having worked with Diane for well over 10 years. Over the years she has had extensive experience on a few charities in the Tauranga area working with youth and mental health holding the role of Treasurer. Currently she is the Director of a Charity in Auckland working with horses and Equine Assisted Learning with the benefits in mental health.

Erin Nicholson: Secretary

Erin is Tauranga born, bred and proud to live in the most beautiful city on earth. A long and varied administration-based career has included 10 years at the Bay of Plenty Times where, as part of her role, Erin ran a biweekly column for children to write letters about their lives, school, heroes, issues of the day and aspirations. She has spent many years assisting a wide range of community groups. At present Erin is the Community Assistant at Basestation and part of STEM Wana Trust. Her family includes a flock of crazy chickens who rule the roost.

Sophie McCauley: co-Secretary

24-year-old Sophie is the youngest voice on the committee and keen to get information to more youth about the Brain Watkins House Museum and the history of Tauranga in general. Sophie has grown up with family artwork on the walls and has spent several hours helping to clean family headstones at both Katikati and Tauranga cemeteries. She has a history in dance, appearing on stage with Shona Laing, and plays the piano and guitar. Sophie also has a cranky pet rabbit called Snowy and recently rescued an upset guinea pig that had been abandoned in the neighbourhood.

YOUR NEW COMMITTEE

Bruce Brown: THS Life Member | Honorary Solicitor | Guide

Retired Te Puke solicitor Bruce Brown has been a member of the Tauranga Historical Society since 1974. He hails originally from Christchurch and has always had an interest in visiting New Zealand historical sites. Bruce is a member of the New Zealand Archaeological Association, a keen walker, and a New Zealand book and model car collector. He lives in Te Puke with his wife and has travelled extensively throughout New Zealand.

Loretta Crawford: Marketing Advisor

Loretta is Head of Destination Marketing at Tourism Bay of Plenty She has extensive experience in marketing and communications and holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in History and English Loretta loves the story-telling aspect of her role at Tourism Bay of Plenty and the opportunities it provides to continually uncover new parts of our region Her first impression of the Brain Watkins House Museum was that it was a delightful historical gem and fascinating snapshot of late 19th century New Zealand life

Joseph McAuley: Architectural Advisor

Joseph is an Architectural Designer with a passion for heritage architecture and local history in Tauranga. He has worked across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and London and is currently a kaiako Te Pūkenga | Wintec. Completing a Masters of Architecture (Prof) while based in Tauranga he is also has ongoing studies in Te reo Māori and Whakairo. His favourite whare in Tauranga (after Brain Watkins of course!) is the wharenui at Huria Marae, Tamateapōkaiwhenua. Joseph is a past member of the Tauranga Historical Society Committee and excited to come back on board!

Beth Bowden: Immediate past-President

Beth Bowden graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1974 with a BA majoring in English and History and an MA (1st Class) Hons in English. She has intermittently interested herself in writing essays on politics, local culture and history, and is currently involved in researching and writing a history of the Te Puna Quarry Park.

FOR YOUR DIARY

Society Meetings & THS Talks are held on the first Sunday of each month from 2pm to 3.30pm in the Brain Watkins Hall behind Brain Watkins House Museum (koha appreciated). Parking is available at weekends in Kale Print.

April 2: Katikati Archives by Sandra Haigh Sandra collects community stories within the district governed by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which is a huge area, covering 212,00 hectares and with a population of around 51,000 people. Sandra is a team of one, and runs two archive rooms, one at Pātuki Manawa at Katikati, the other at the Te Puke Library & Service Centre Her partnerships with community groups are highly important – these groups are a goldmine of information, skills and knowledge which reflect each group and their members. Come and listen to Sandra tell us about the archives which will include her favourite collection.

April 30: Archaeology of the Bay of Plenty by John Coster (Please note that this replaces our usual Society meeting on Sunday 7 May) Archaeology Week is our nationwide celebration of New Zealand’s archaeological heritage and runs from 22nd April to 30th April 2023 The aim of Archaeology Week is to increase public awareness of archaeology in New Zealand by highlighting the many and varied activities carried out by archaeologists working here and abroad. In celebration of Archaeology Week, come and join us for a talk by John Coster on the spectacular archaeological landscape in the Bay of Plenty

May 7: Brain Watkins Heritage Garden by John Coster (12 45pm to 1 45pm) (Please note that this talk is for the Guides of Brain Watkins House Museum & new Committee members only).

Other Events

April 1 to April 10: 60th National Jazz Festival Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

April 29: Battle of Gate Pā | Pukehinahina 159th Commemoration Service A short service at St. Georges Anglican Church begins at 4pm, when the British forces began their march up Pukehinahina. At 4.30 the bell will be rung 60 times to remember the approximately 60 men who lost their lives during the battle

June 4-6: The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga Closed on these dates

June 21: Battle of Te Ranga 159th Commemoration At Te Ranga Historical Reserve on the corner of Joyce Road and Pyes Pā Road. Arrive at 7.15am for a 7.30am start. Parking on reserve.

NEWS FROM MANA WHENUA

Ngāi Tamarāwaho, a hapū of Tākitimu and Ngāti Ranginui origin, are mana whenua of the land beneath the Brain Watkins House Museum. As such, the hapū is recognised by the Tauranga Historical Society as our partner to Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed at Tauranga in 1840.

The principles of Te Tiriti are Partnership, Protection and Participation, principles which will be reflected in the work of the Tauranga Historical Society as we strengthen our Treaty partnership.

Ngāi Tamarāwaho currently have membership of the Pukehinahina Charitable Trust which is the entity behind the proposed New Zealand Wars Centre - Te Pūtake o te Riri - to be built on part of the actual Pukehinahina - Gate Pā battle site. The Trust is also driving the redevelopment of the Te Ranga historic reserve in Pyes Pā Road.

Ngāi Tamarāwaho is represented on the Tauranga Historical Society Committee by Buddy Mikaere.

PERI REWETI KOHU (1951-2022)

Ngāi Tamarāwaho kaumātua Peri Reweti Kohu passed on 2 August 2022 at the age of 70. At Peri's tangi on 5 August 2022, there were several references to his involvement in the Tauranga Town Hall Occupation of 1987 (Lot 45). As Buddy Mikaere recalled, Peri shared with him part of his childhood, when he and his family had to move and squat on land at Ōtūmoetai where they had a three-sided house. That wasn’t because of any fancy architectural design, but simply because the fourth side was a hedge - a legacy of the land confiscations that took place in Tauranga Moana. Without remembering these experiences the depth of the injustices and their echo down the generations cannot be fully understood But it was those experiences too, that made Peri into the kind and generous man he was – a man also remembered for his huge musical talent and his straightforward way of speaking when he had a point to make or a correction to the historical record Peri was so fully involved in whatever was happening, whether photographing or videoing, or in the case of the Te Ranga pou installation in 2014, on the end of a shovel showing the younger generation how it’s done properly… Portion of an obituary by Debbie McCauley which can be accessed via:

https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/2022/08/07/the-last-strum

Dawn blessing of the pou Peri Kohu during the 2014 Battle of Gate Pā | Pukehinahina sesquicentennial Image Credit: Tania Lewis-Rickard.

PETER MCTAINSH (1924-2022)

Tauranga drainlayer and concrete enthusiast Peter McTainsh passed on 29 December 2022 at the age of 98. He had stints in the Navy and Army as well as adventures abroad in the UK and Western Australia where he gold-mined for several years. Peter's studio was in the garage of his house, still standing, on the corner of Hazel Terrace and Ōtūmoetai Road. He was a trained sculptor who made a living from his art by turning out hundreds and hundreds of hard-wearing, well-finished, and elegant planter pots and vases which he sold at weekend markets. Peter constructed the original Humpty Dumpty at Tauranga's Memorial Park. Sadly, this was destroyed by vandals, as was the statue of a Greek boy at the Rose Garden's on Cliff Road. He also worked on the Memorial Park playground and built the illuminated fountain. Some of Peter's work is preserved at Brain Watkins House Museum. There is the Bird Bath (the little bird has sadly gone missing during the last 2-3 years), the stalking cat and white swan in the garden, and the house cat with the green eyes. More information on Peter's life and work can be found in an article written by Max Avery, published in the Historical Review (Vol, 67, No. 1, May 2019, pp. 13-16).

Peter McTainsh, Ōtūmoetai, makes garden statuary using concrete

NEWS FROM THE GUIDES

I called in to see our guides on Sunday 19th February, but couldn't get in the door to speak to them because Brain Watkins House was full of visitors! It was wonderful to see. I hung around in the garden instead where I cleaned and filled up the birdbath, then pulled out some weeds. Joy and the team are doing an amazing job!

- Debbie McCauley.

Background: Pressed metal ceiling in the lounge, Brain Watkins House Museum

Photo: Shirley Arabin

Glennis Smith guiding during the 2021 Brain Watkins Garden Party.

Photo: Debbie McCauley

CYCLONE GABRIELLE CLEAN-UP

One of the worst storms to hit Aotearoa in living history, Cyclone Gabrielle affected the North Island and the top of the South Island from 12 to 16 February 2023, with a national state of emergency declared on 14 February. The weather event brought heavy rain and gale-force winds resulting in flooding, landslips, falling trees, evacuations, power outages, road blockages, and a death toll of at least 11 Gabrielle was on a par with Cyclone Giselle (1968) which caused the Wahine Disaster, and Cyclone Bola (1988).

An initial assessment of Brain Watkins House identified branches on the driveway from the oak trees, which were easily cleared, but then that the kōwhai tree had completely blown over. Luckily the white concrete swan made by Peter McTainsh was undamaged. The swan was located right next to the base of the tree, which is not a significant tree in the garden nor old enough to be deemed historical. However, the swan is one of our taonga, and so we have come off very lightly.

The kōwhai tree had fallen away from our structures, and so lay in state for a few days before we could organise a working bee on Saturday 18th February to remove it and to generally clear up other debris. Many thanks to our wonderful 'helping hands', John and Julie Green with their newly sharpened chainsaw, Rosie Burr (Grounds Custodian at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga) and Gerhardt Reibstirn. As the lawns hadn't been mown by City Care for many weeks they resembled a hay-paddock - and so I took my lawnmower along to give them a mow before the next day's Open House Unfortunately I did become a little frustrated with how many times the mower stalled due to the length of the lawns, so gave up completely on using the catcher with only one or two disparaging words aimed its way! A bit messy for now, but better than they were - Debbie McCauley.

Fallen kōwhai at Brain Watkins House Museum.

Photo: Debbie McCauley

SHIRLEY ARABIN RECORDINGS

Tauranga Historical Society stalwart, life member, and past-President Shirley Arabin is an historian with extensive knowledge of the Brain Watkins House, its history, and its contents. Her knowledge is invaluable to the Society and has been recorded by Bev Hodges for safekeeping.

The Tauranga Historical Society would like to thank Bev Hodges for her time and commitment to this project to record Shirley. The result is an incredibly valuable record for the Society going forward.

Listen to Shirley's extensive knowledge about Brain Watkins House by following this link; https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt. nz/nodes/view/60264

Bev Hodges at the THS Vintage Garden Party. Image Credit: Stan Gregec

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COMMITTEE

Your 2023 Tauranga Historical Society Committee have been kept extremely busy since the AGM on Sunday 5th February! We thank you for your kind words and support moving forwards Here are some notes from our meetings to keep you informed:

We agreed that a koha be asked for instead of the usual $2 for our THS Talks. We are going to partner with Heritage New Zealand and other organisations for Archaeology Week (22 to 30 April) and for Tauranga Heritage Week in October. We haven't the time or energy to put towards a Garden Party in March with such short notice Therefore, we have deferred the 43rd Brain Watkins Garden Party until Sunday 5th November 2023.

Meg and Loretta will be sending out a survey of members to ask, amongst other things, what the benefits are of membership to the Society and how we can make things better? Members who do not have email will be invited to a morning tea so that we can hear their thoughts and feelings.

We are talking to Tauranga City Council about the possibility of a bus park so that school buses and tourist buses have somewhere safe to park.

John and Julie Green have removed the downed kōwhai tree from the Brain Watkins garden Thank you John and Julie!

Mark Francis from Tremains Real Estate Ltd contacted Debbie to advise that he has a cheque for the THS for $500 from the sale of 71A Matua Road Thank you Mark, this will be put to very good use!

John Coster has offered to keep dealing with the Rising Damp and Drainage issues for the house and report back to the committee in writing Thank you John!

A funding application has been submitted to cover the cost of developing a Strategic Plan so the committee can develop a roadmap for moving forward. It also includes an application for essential maintenance on the house and garden

Meg and Loretta have been added as co-managers of our Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/taurangahistoricalsociety

https://www facebook com/brainwatkinshouse

Preservation - Interpretation - Promotion

150 YEARS AGO

"Amongst the water carriers, and their name was legion but scarcely discernible to us in the darkness, was the Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu and the Ven. Archdeacon Brown, and those who did not witness their exertions can scarcely imagine the zeal with which they worked. "

Image: Bay of Plenty Times (1 February 1873, p 2) Courtesy of Papers Past.

TAMATEAPŌKAIWHENUA CARVED MEETING HOUSE & DINING ROOMS

be accessed via this link https://paekoroki tauranga govt nz/nodes/view/23978

May 5th, 1956, will remain for a long time as a red letter day for the Māori community at Judea, if not for Ngāti Ranginui tribe as a whole. On this day took place the culmination of over 4 years of communal work, voluntary and unpaid, in the construction of the two houses. The carved meetinghouse Tamateapōkaiwhenua and the Dining Rooms - top storey Iwipupu and the lower one, Ihuparapara Not since the third generation back from the present was there Māori decorative work incorporated in the communal houses The prize of achievement is certainly more satisfying than anything that money can supply. So it is with the Judea community, men, women and children. For another reason, too, is there satisfaction. This was the first occasion when the present Māori King had graced a marae of the Ngāti Ranginui tribe It was a great honour to them that King Koroki should consent to perform through his elders the ancient Tainga Kawa Ritual for the Tamateapōkaiwhenua Carved House The ritual is traditional. It is rendered by Tiaki Hira of Tūākau a constant companion of the Māori King on his travels. Tiaki Hira is one of the few living repositories of ancient ritual.

The ritual, in brief, lifts the tapu from the building imposed through the operations of the male carvers and others using the timbers. Moreover, the ancient craft of carving, strictly speaking, is attended with tapu and at the opening ceremony such tapu is raised so that nothing continues in the atmosphere of the building that may cause misfortune and trouble. In Māori thought King Koroki possesses those powers that enables all these things to be done

The houses as is customary, are called after the ancestors of the tribe. Here the names are Tamateapōkaiwhenua for the meetinghouse; and Iwipupu and Ihuparapara, his wives, for the parts of the Dining Rooms. Appropriately, the assembly chamber is called after the male ancestor and the Dining Rooms which offer hospitality to visitors, are called after the lady or ladies of the tribe

From the notes of Dr. Maharaia Winiata (1912-1960), Ngāti Ranginui leader, Methodist minister, teacher, anthropologist, broadcaster, community leader Printed in the Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society, No 6 (June 1956) which can

Image Credit: Michael and Nancy, Holiday Road Trip: Tauranga https://mandnharward com/blog-post/holiday-road-trip-tauranga

The tribe concerned is Ngāti Ranginui. Ngāti Ranginui descended from Ranginui whose father was Tamateapōkaiwhenua whom the Judea people recognise as Captain of the Takitimu Canoe that sailed from Hawaiki, central Polynesia, in or about 1350 A.D. Popular history speaks of Tauranga as being the dwelling place of one tribe, and that is the Ngāi Te Rangi tribe Traditional history, social organisation and genealogies however, clearly indicate that there have always been two major tribes occupying Tauranga. In fact, traditional accounts state that the original inhabitants of Tauranga were the progenitors of the Ngāti Ranginui tribe. Tamateapōkaiwhenua lived with his family including Ranginui at Pāpāmoa. His pā has suffered of late from the devastation of Pākehā so called progress in the interests of roadmaking, despite the protestations of the Māori people

Authorities such as Best, Judge Wilson and others bear witness to the prior occupation of Tauranga by Ngāti Ranginui. Today the social centres of the Ngāti Ranginui tribe are intact. These include Te Puna, Wairoa, Judea and Hairini as the main ones.

The decorative work in the meetinghouse consists of carvings, tukutuku panels on the walls and the kōwhaiwhai painted designs on the rafters and against the walls.

An interesting feature of the carving is that being done by local boys after a measure of instruction, it attempts to portray something of Māori mythology and traditions For instance, the journey of Kupe is found on the large barge boards over the porch The story tells of the chase made by Kupe and Ngahue after their pet Octopus that belonged to Muturangi, the old Tohunga of Hawaiki The story does not sound quite so incredible since a University Department has discovered the existence of a giant squid in Cook’s Strait, for it was there that the final battle was engaged and Kupe and Ngahue slew the Octopus.

The upright in front left portrays the struggle of Tanemahuta to separate Rangi and Papa the primeval parents so well preserved by Governor Gray in his writings. On the opposite upright in front is portrayed the exploits of the incorrigible Maui-Tikitiki-o-Taranga. He holds the fishhook made from the jawbone of his ancestress Murirangawhenua with which he fished up lands here and in the Pacific Then he is seen snaring the sun-God so that the days would be long for the people to finish their work. At bottom Maui is seen already disappearing into the vagina of the old goddess of the night. The Fantail his companion, could no longer contain himself, his tittering awakens the old woman and Maui is choked and thus death and mortality became the lot of humankind

The side or wall posts in the porch represent well known ancestors, both of the local tribes and of other peoples in the country. For instance, at left looking in and in front is Taurikura. An ancestress of the Ngāti Ranginui tribe, she lived with her father up the Judea River. Reprimanded by her father she sulked, and to avenge herself on her father she caused herself to be turned into a Tuatara and swam out to Karewa Island This started the Judea River on its present course and began a line of creatures unique in very many ways The Pākehā scientists may speak of relics from another age: Ngāti Ranginui and especially the people at Judea know that the Tuatara is Taurikura. She is carved on the figure. And so, we may go on.

On the opposite wall among others is Kahungunu, ancestor of the great Ngāti Kahungunu Tribe of Hawke’s Bay, a son also of Tamateapōkaiwhenua, who migrated to the East Sir James Carroll and other Māori leaders come from tupuna.

On top of the building is the figure holding a taiaha or spear. It represents Tahuriwakanui, a warrior chief of not long ago whose skill with the taiaha is well known.

Image Credit: Huria Marae - He Rourou Aroha https://www facebook com/huriatrust co nz

At the foot of the front posts, are two other figures one on top of the other. The top one is Turongo a chief from the Tainui Canoe. Below him is his wife Mahinarangi, a chieftainess of the Takitimu Canoe, she holds their child Raukawa. The significance of these figures is that they represent the ancestors in a direct line of the Māori King At Ngāruawāhia in the Tūrangawaewae Marae are the two houses The large guest house built by the late Princess Te Puea is called Mahinarangi, the adjoining residence of the Māori King is named after Turongo.

Inside the building to the left is the place where the local people recline, while distinguished guests always sit on the opposite side near the front window But there again the captains of the canoes and the ancestors of the local and visiting tribes are represented in the carved wall posts throughout the building The Figure watching by the post in the middle of the building is Muriwai. She was a sister of Toroa, captain of the Mataatua canoe and she in turn was the grandmother of the ladiessisters - Ihuparapara and Iwipupu who became the wives of Tamateapōkaiwhenua.

The two main posts against the walls, one in front and the other at the back, have figures which represent - front – Toitehua-tahi and Whatonga during that adventure so well told in the text books when at long last they all arrived at Whakatāne in New Zealand. At the back the figures portray navigating priests of the Takitimu Canoe - Rongokako father of Tamateapōkaiwhenua, Tupai and Ruawharomen who also fashioned the canoe from the timber called Puwhenua in Hawaiki

Among the carved wall figures are such well known Māori personalities as Tamatekapua and Tuhourangi of Te Arawa; Rahiri of Northland; Toroa of the Mataatua Canoe; Hoturoa, Captain of the Tainui Canoe; Porourangi of Ngāti Porou ancestry and others. This wide spread gives the house an added importance to outsiders for it gives them some point of contact with the building, the local tribe and the occasion

While the carved timbers were made from tōtara woods, and the body and frame of the house from rimu, the hekes or rafters are Oregon pine.

The tukutuku panels set into the walls behind the carved wall posts consist of kiekie and slats and wooden dowlings for backing The designs are made by weaving the kiekie through the slats and around the pieces of wooden dowling at the back. There is a name for each design or pattern. The myriad of crosses is called purapura whetu; the ladder or step shaped pattern is the well-known poutama. In olden times and in some modern buildings a special reed or kakaho is used for backs for the tukutuku. The dowling is easier to get, though it tends to make the patterns rigidly symmetrical, whereas the kakaho stalks with their greater degree of elasticity makes for individuality of construction Experts say that the kakaho is less liable to the ravages of the borer and the destruction of fire.

The tukutuku panel is done by women. The work includes preparation of kiekie by boiling, and the use of dyes to gain the right colours. Two persons work opposite each other, one in front and the other at the back of a frame in which the panel for the time rests The male job is to make the panels

The painting on the rafters and along the upper and lower parts of the walls, is here the work of a group of young men. The red, black, and white colours are attempts at reproducing something of the old patterns. The patterns and designs on the ceiling rafters are, in the main, traditional Each has its own name; some are more complicated than others An experiment was conducted by the painters here, in originating a combination of design units.

Some pleasing results are seen, particularly on the tāhuhu or main beam holding up the building, where sections are set of different patterns that correspond before and aft the main upright post in the middle.

The motifs for the painting designs have come from nature, the curling frond of fern, the upward whirl of the waves and so on. There is a popular belief that all Māori Art is symbolic. While this is generally true, decoration also takes a very big place In fact, it is the feeling for colour, for form and for movement, that characterises the art of any people This is true of the Māori. The artist takes an idea, he considers his material and then sets his hand to the task using conventional methods and techniques.

The kōwhaiwhai patterns on the rafters according to one authority, continue the spirit of the tāhuhu or main horizontal beam to link up with the carved ancestral figures on the wall posts below The patterns connect the tāhuhu with the poupous The significance is that in any tribe there is a genealogical tāhuhu or main beam that links the people up with an ancestor. This is the main line of descent from which families may take their own branch of the genealogy down to themselves. Thus, in this way is the whole kinship system, the scheme of interrelationships between people of one descent, symbolised in the kōwhaiwhai patterns and designs

The kōwhaiwhai patterns decorate the Dining Rooms around the walls. Iwipupu has the main beam down the ceiling also decorated for artistic rather than for any symbolic reason. The carving in the porch of the Dining Rooms present a design or decoration seen on the pātaka or store house of olden times. The pātaka was elaborately carved The Māori in this way showed his high evaluation of food as something of social significance closely linked to the high qualities of generosity, gift making and hospitality which were the true marks of a well-bred person of rank. The cuts on the figure as part of its decoration are called the taratara-a-kai pattern. This cut is right for the Dining Rooms, the modern counterpart of the pātaka of old.

The whole project is a fine example of communal cooperation typical of ancient tribal life and so much needed in modern endeavours. The idea of building a new meetinghouse came from the parents of the present generation of people at Judea. The timber came from a communally held bush at Te Akeake The original plan for the building was drawn by Mr Vernon Brown, an Auckland Architect, Mr Roy Matthews, a member of the community here adapted the plan. Mr Henare Toka who was responsible for the carving instruction of the men at the Pā supplied Mr Vernon Brown with the Māori data. Adult Education initiated the plans for instruction in the decorative crafts to enable the work to be done to standard. The money was raised by local drives for funds through dances, and sales of work, monthly contribution by the local people over four years helped to swell the finance A timely subsidy by the Māori Department was most acceptable Then there were the donations from the Tauranga Borough Council, the Tauranga Historical Society, the 20, 000 Club, the Chamber of Commerce and other Pākehā friends for which acknowledgement is hereby made.

The monetary value of the work, material and construction of the two buildings is in the vicinity of £12, 000 In this amount is not included the extras such as cost of conferences and meetings etc. The importance of the effort put forward by the local Judea community is readily realised when the economic background of the people is known. Practically landless and dependent on manual labour for wages, they have nevertheless achieved this goal with little outside help Not only that, but the bulk of the work has been substantially voluntary

What then has been the incentive? The driving force has come from the leadership of the matriarchs - elders of the group; the sentiment and feeling for the leaders who have passed on whose last word was for the buildings to be completed. Their spirits have been present throughout. Then there has been the inherited pride in a closely-knit community The feeling of pride is strong But above all is this concern lest the word of the ancestors remains dormant

At the completion of the projects the pride and self-respect of the people have assumed a more positive and constructive form, for in achieving their goal they have also added to their own stature. Indeed one can expect a strengthening of the whole tribal fibre as at last a living symbol is raised in the midst of marae, the buildings in which have not been conducive to the production of much elation in the past, though these have served their purpose well.

It is important that the real meaning of the meetinghouse to the people concerned should be grasped. Something of this meaning is seen in what is said already. Behind everything however, is the fact that the meetinghouse and dining rooms are the ancestors In Māori thought the buildings tend to symbolise and give concrete form to the history of the people With it all goes the tendency for the unity of the people to be deepened and reinforced and for the organisation of the people to be more orderly than in the state of being without such buildings. The top storey of the Dining Rooms has a forward look about it. Facilities for youth in the form of club rooms etc. are made available And there again the pride of the people is strengthened for nowhere else among the Māori people is there any such twodecked construction

Intertwining the buildings is the fact of the kinship interrelationships of the group. They are all related vertically to a common ancestor and horizontally to one another. This is the basis of the social organisation of the people that gives it some sort of form and body. This feature of the Māori community presents certain problems of local government For instance, it means that within the local government system set up for all the people of New Zealand, there is this other scheme that caters for the needs of the Māori that arise from his tribal background. Local Māori communal buildings have to be built and maintained, roads constructed, electricity and water laid on. On the other hand, there are wider responsibilities in the way of rates etc

This dual system for the Māori poses certain questions. Should not the fact that the Māori has to maintain a separate community entitle him either

(a) To group representation on Borough and City Councils

(b) To some kind of exemption from rates etc

This is the dilemma of the Māori community that dogs the steps of the Māori as he attempts to work out his destiny in a dual system. The meetinghouse today underlines this problem once more. The Māori is giving his own answer and that is to try to make the best of the two worlds. The real answer however comes only when, with the help of the Pākehā he is able to merge the two worlds into one - in which he enjoys the best from the two cultures

The Pākehā interest in the Judea Carved Meetinghouse is most heartening; This shows the Māori that his Pākehā friend appreciates arts and crafts and the culture of the Māori. These things have a place of their own in the community. More broadly too, the Pākehā can feel that the Māori has something to contribute in a quite unique way to the development of the district as a whole Many people rightly regard the meeting house carved and decorated, as an asset to the district, not merely as just another Māori building New Zealand is growing up in this respect and people are no longer looking down their noses at Māori things.

It is interesting to note that in the building itself Pākehā have taken a practical hand. The architect was a Pākehā. Some of the rafter patterns were analysed by a Pākehā for simpler painting by the men, and what is more, the same Pākehā gentleman did one of the carvings in the building

The Tamateapōkaiwhenua Komiti Marae with all its auxiliary committees and organisations considers the carved meetinghouse as the property of the people, both Māori and Pākehā, of Tauranga.

NZ String Quartet at Huria Marae (23 & 24 April 2014) Image Credit: Pukehinahina Charitable Trust

NEW DISCOVERIES

It is so true that there is always something new to discover in history! In May 2022 I stumbled across this incorrectly labelled map with detail from the 1864 Battle of Te Ranga After correspondence with Auckland Libraries they have amended the metadata accompanying the map so that future researchers can finally find it - Debbie McCauley. The map can be found at https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/8262/rec/53

Battle of Te Ranga, Tauranga Rough sketch of ground occupied by rebels on 21st June 1864 by Lt Warburton, R E Sketched on day of action Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 268-19

JOURNALS FROM THE PAST

Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society, No. 1 (March 1955). More Tauranga Historical Society journals can be found via this link: https://tauranga.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23915

OUR BUILT HERITAGE

Image Credit: Debbie McCauley

BRAIN’S COTTAGE (EST. 1879) 30 SECOND AVENUE, TAURANGA

Article by Debbie McCauley

According to the 1880 Tauranga Directory, there were five sections on the south side of Second Avenue between Devonport Road and Cameron Road. The section closest to Devonport Road was the private residence of contractor Joseph Denham Brain, his wife Kate Ellen Brain (née Bishop), and their children.

It wasn't long before Joseph and Kate Bishop married in Auckland in October 1871. The couple moved further north from Auckland to Whangaroa where their first three children were born. The family then moved to Tauranga where Joseph purchased a boatyard and slip at the north end of The Strand from Charles Wood. Situated just below Taumata-Kahawai | Monmouth Redoubt, Brain’s shipyard was on the foreshore as it existed before reclamation.

Joseph likely built this four-roomed cottage in Second Avenue from rough-sawn kauri weatherboards to house the family while he established his business

In 1863 Joseph arrived in New Zealand on board the Aloe. He had been trading throughout the Pacific as a merchant mariner, and soon after arriving in New Zealand joined the Water Transport Corps, which some describe as New Zealand’s first Navy

Joseph served as a ship’s carpenter and mate on board the gunboat Pioneer, purpose-built in Sydney in 1863 for the New Zealand Colonial Government and used when British and Colonial troops invaded the Waikato region. He later served on the Rangiriri; another gunboat built in Sydney in 1864.

Joseph worked in the Naval Dockyard in Auckland and became quite well-known for his boat building skills.

In September 1881 the cutter Dream arrived from Tairua with timber for the larger family home that Joseph would build on the corner of Cameron Road and Elizabeth Street and that is known today as the Brain Watkins House Museum. The family moved into their new residence and the little cottage on Second Avenue was advertised as being available to let in 1881 It was sited opposite the residence of Captain Norris

In October 1882 the Council received a complaint that the briars in Second Avenue meant residents had little or no means of access to their homes for carts or drays

By 1889 Mr Lundon is reported as selling a small allotment with a four-room cottage and orchard It is most likely the cottage was purchased by the Leslie family who lived in Third Avenue. In 1914 Mrs Leslie advertised the Second Avenue cottage to let.

The cottage has had various incarnations over the years, being used as a jewellery shop in the early 2000's and more recently shared by The Cottage Café and The Cottage boutique store.

SNIPPITS FROM THE BLOG

Between June 2013 and January 2022 almost 400 articles, written by 21 contributors and several guest authors, were published on the Tauranga Historical Society's blog which has been faithfully managed by Brett Payne. You can access this extensive range of articles and images on the history of Tauranga Moana at this link: http://taurangahistorical blogspot com

The Society welcomes further contributions to the blog in the form of short articles (roughly 5001000 words) with appropriate copyright-free images from members and non-members Email us at tauranga historical@gmail com and we'll put you in contact with Blog Editor Brett Payne

Image: Recollections of Dennis George Marsh - Part 2 (posted to the blog on 26 November 2021).

Thank you to these organisations that support Brain Watkins House Museum. Let us know if your business is keen to be featured here!

A massive thank you to Mark Francis from Tremains Real Estate Ltd who has donated $500 to the Tauranga Historical Society from the sale of 71A Matua Road. Thank you Mark!

Photo: Mark Francis and Joseph McAuley.