Opening of Tūrongo House - Part Six

Rights Information
Year
1938
Reference
319779
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1938
Reference
319779
Media type
Audio
Categories
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Special events radio coverage
Credits
RNZ Collection
Bennett, Charles Moihi Te Arawaka (b.1913, d.1998), Commentator
2YA (Radio station : Wellington, N.Z.), Broadcaster
1YA (Radio station : Auckland, N.Z.), Broadcaster

Part six of the recordings from the opening of Tūrongo House, Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia.

Commentary by Charles Moihi Bennett, who continues the radio broadcast while waiting for the official party to re-emerge from Tūrongo House. He gives a history of the Kingitanga.

He gives listeners a detailed description of Tūrongo House and its carvings and decoration. He explains the King's coat-of-arms on the door, 'Te Paki o Matariki', which features the stars of the constellation Matariki. He also explains the detailed tukutuku panels inside the house, which were made by Waikato women. He talks about the arrangements at the marae for accommodating visitors, and the contributions 'mau aringa', or koha, towards the costs. He describes the arrival of the Ngāti Raukawa party, who came onto the marae bearing branches with pound notes attached to them, while another tribe dropped pound notes onto a mat. He goes on to explain how fields of over 40 marquees around the pā are being used to accommodate the estimated 4,000 visitors. He describes the marquees as being lined with raupō and then woven mats. Each tent is named with the iwi who are to stay there. He then talks about dining arrangements, and how a loud-speaker is used to call different iwi to meals at the wharekai at different times. The tangata whenua always dine last. Hangi and European methods are being used to cook all the meals.

He then describes events due to happen the following day, when the Ngāruawāhia Regatta takes place. Even more people are expected to attend this event. He describes the ceremony this morning, in which the Governor-General and his wife arrived by the river, onboard a waka taua [Te Winika], and accompanied by waka tiwai. This was the first time in thirty years that this has happened. He explains how a tree was felled to make a waka, and the rituals surrounding this. He ends the broadcast and signs off.