Ó TÁTOU WÁNANGA
Nä Hira Nathan
Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Wánanga o Aotearoa ki Apakura!
A
pakura campus in Te Awamutu stands as a testament to the rich history of Te Wänanga o Aotearoa.
When the carvers and weavers working on O-Täwhao Marae in the early 1980s needed another work space, the marae committee applied to the local council to build the Waipä Kökiri Arts Centre on a site opposite Te Awamutu College. Built on an old rubbish tip, the Centre faced strong opposition from locals, with many arguing that a disused rubbish tip would serve the community better. The original building, which used to be a dairy factory, still forms a part of the Apakura campus. As the original campus of Te Wänanga o Aotearoa, Apakura holds a special place in the hearts of those who have lived through the struggles and triumphs of establishing one of New Zealand’s largest tertiary institutions.
Nä Bruce Mercer ngä whakaahua. Photo: Te Puna Mätauranga is located on the left-hand side adjacent to Apakura campus, which is on the same site as the old Waipä Kökiri Arts Centre.
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KA MÍHARO
NGAHURU Autumn
Ö TÁTOU WÁNANGA