Maniaiti Marae (Wallace Pā) facts for kids
Maniaiti Marae, also known as Wallace Pā, is a special meeting place for Māori people. It is a marae located in Manunui, a small place about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south-east of Taumarunui in the central North Island of New Zealand.
This marae is home to the families who are descendants of Nehuora and Te Wakatahurangi Te Warahi. Te Wakatahurangi was often called "Nanny Maraea." She was a very strong and respected leader for her family. Nanny Maraea helped a lot in building and developing the marae. Nehuora was also highly respected. He helped deliver many babies, possibly over a hundred, for his family and others in the community.
The marae is sometimes called Wallace Pā because the Māori name "Warahi" was changed to "Wallace." This happened when Māori people were encouraged to use European names. Today, many descendants have gone back to using "Warahi." Other family names connected to the marae include Chadwick, Roderick, and Te Wano.
Tribal Connections
The main iwi (tribe) connected to Maniaiti Marae is Ngāti Tuwharetoa. However, Ngāti Kahungunu, which was Nanny Maraea's tribe, is also closely linked. Most people from the marae feel connected to both tribes.
Through Ngāti Tuwharetoa, the whānau (family) at the marae belong to the hapū (subtribe) called Ngāti Manunui. Their special lake, or moana, is Taupo-nui-a-Tia. In Māori culture, it is very important to know your family history and where your ancestors came from. This helps show your connection to the land and your people.
Here is an example of a common Ngāti Tuwharetoa mihi (greeting or statement) that shows these connections:
| Mihi (Greeting) | Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko Tongariro te Maunga Ko Taupo te Moana |
Tongariro is the Mountain Taupo is the Lake |
*Te Heuheu is the traditional name for the main chief of the tribe. | |
The Environment Around the Marae
The area around Ngapuke is mostly rural and covered in forestry (tree farms). The Pungapunga River flows right behind the marae. People use the river for swimming and for catching eels using traditional hinaki (net traps).
Future Plans for the Marae
In 2012, the marae received money to build a new wharepaku (bathroom and toilet block). This was an important step for the marae's facilities.
Some family members still live at the marae, but many have moved to other parts of New Zealand and even Australia. The families are working hard to raise money. They want to make sure the marae continues to be a strong and active place for future generations. They often post notices for gatherings to help rebuild the Pā.
On July 21, 2012, the old Wharepuni (main meeting house) at Maniati was carefully taken down by a controlled burn. New buildings will replace it. In 2015, a wharekai (dining hall) was moved and set up on the site.
In October 2020, the New Zealand Government provided a large amount of money, over $1.5 million. This funding came from the Provincial Growth Fund. It was used to upgrade Maniaiti Marae and seven other nearby marae. This project also helped create 156 jobs in the area.
