A programme produced by David Pumphrey in the Palmerston North studios of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation covering the construction of and associated carving and weaving for a meeting house to serve the local Māori tribes in the area.
Parewahawaha is the name of the new meeting house and community centre under construction at Bulls. Spokespersons include Wiremu Parker (Ngāti Porou) of the Adult Education Department of Victoria University; tohunga whakairo (master carver) Henare Toka and local kaumātua and building supervisor Taylor Brown (Ngāti Parewahawaha). Ngāti Raukawa pātere (action song), Poia atu tāku poi is sung.
Wiremu Parker, education officer with Victoria University, speaks about the significance of the Ngāti Raukawa progenitor, Parewahawaha. He also speaks about the tohunga whakario Henare Toka (Ngāti Whātua) and mentions Mrs. Toka, an expert in the art of creating woven tukutuku panels. He describes the work as being, "Highly intensive in theoretical and practical aspects". A Ngāti Raukawa group sings the pātere, 'Poia atu tāku poi, composed by Erenora Taratoa.
Henare Toka describes some of the tukutuku panels and mentions the
following designs; poutama (ladder to the legendary three baskets of
knowledge), roimata toroa (tears of the albatross), pātiki (flounder)
and purapura whetū (evening star). Henare Toka also speaks about some of the carvings including the amo or front barge boards. He mentions the significance of the explorer, Kupe, dominating the amo.
The local kaumātua and building supervisor, Mr. Taylor Brown (Ngāti Parewahawaha) speaks of the project as, "... a worthy live memorial of our cheftainess and progenitor, Parewahawaha". He says work and fund raising to date spans a period of eight years. Studio announcer outro.