An unidentified interviewer speaks to Pei Te Hurinui Jones about the history of different aspects of the Kiingitanga and Turangawaewae Marae.
[ see 40872 for Part I]
The ponga dining hall is named Akara. It was built at a time when it was difficult to obtain galvanised roofing iron. Te Puea succeeded in obtaining it from Arkie, Manager of the Farmers Trading store at Ngaruawahia. Ngaruawahia was the where the first Māori King was accorded his status (Potatau Te Wherowhero).
A spring is still located on the marae grounds and was used in days gone by as a communal spring for drinking water. Today it is used for keeping surplus eels to keep them alive.
After the Land Wars, the second King, Tawhiao, lived in the King Country, at one time was in Te Kuiti, and later on at Hikurangi, near Otorohanga. Hikurangi was the ancestral land of the King, through his connection to Ngāti Maniapoto. Tawhiao then moved to Aotea, which is approximately two miles north of Kawhia Harbour, then moving to the foot of Pirongia Mountain. Just before he died, he moved again to Parawera, near Kihikihi.
His son Mahuta made Ngaruawahia his headquarters. Mahuta lived at Waahi, on the western side of the Waikato River, dying there. His son Te Rata also lived and died there in 1933. His son, Koroki, lived a while at Waahi and then moved to Ngaruawahia.
Pei Te Hurinui Jones mentions the significance of naming the marae Turangawaewae, which came from King Tawhiao. Although he was reared in Ngaruawahia and then moved after the wars, he left a legacy to his descendants - that Ngaruawahia be the eventual settlement, the footrest of the King Movement.
The present site of the marae was confiscated land, sold to a European. The people of Ngaruawahia bought it back for 1200 pounds. Pei talks of a visit by Lord and Lady Bledisloe to Ngaruawahia to see Te Puea. She took them on a tour of the area. He then explains the meaning behind the design of the flag called 'Te Paki o Matariki', the sigificance of the rainbow and mentions Peha Wharekura.
He explains the significance of anniversaries involving the King Movement, and dates when each King assumed their role. He talks about action songs and haka competitions at the Coronation Hui, explaining the judging system. He also mentions Paraire Herewini and Hemi Hemi Tumai, who were responsible for the Turangawaewae Silver [Brass?] Band.