Murihiku Regeneration
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Te Rūnaka o Awarua

About us

Te Rau Aroha Marae is the world’s southern-most marae. Located in the small town of Bluff, the marae was originally established in the late 1800s as a hostel for local Māori who lived on islands off the Southland coast.Te Rau Aroha MaraeTe Rau Aroha Marae

The marae was developed in 1985, but the tīpuna whare, Tahu-pōtiki, which takes its name from the ancestor (tīpuna) of the local tribe, Ngāi Tahu, was opened in February 2003.

Prior to the establishment of Te Rau Aroha in 1985, Māori from the Bluff/Awarua area used Waitaha Hall on Barrow St before the space became too small.

It was the vision of community leaders to have a marae on Bradshaw St and after fundraising, the dining room for Te Rau Aroha, Thompson said.

It was named Te Rau Aroha after the canteen truck that delivered food stuffs and mail to soldiers in World War II.

Work on the design for the wharerau, mostly designed by Whiting, began in 1999.

Local kaumātua helped to build the meeting rooms. The maihi (mast) at the marae represents the three mountains, Aoraki, the tallest mountain in the southern alps, Tākitimu mountains in southern Fiordland, and Motupōhue, Bluff Hill.

The kōruru (carved head) within the maihi of Mount Aoraki is of Aoraki whose waka became the South Island in Māori mythology.

The maihi of Tākitimu includes the kōruru of Tamatea Pokai Whenua, a great traveller and descendant from the Tākitimu waka.

Within the maihi of Motupōhue includes the kōruru of Tahu Potiki, a former Ngāi Tahu leader.

The tekoteko within the maihi includes Waitaha, Kati Mamoe and Uenuku, atua (god) of the rainbows.

Artwork on the inside of the marae celebrated mana-wāhine representing the Māori woman who married pākeha men.

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Contact us

12 Bradshaw Street, PO Box 19, Bluff 9814
Phone: (03) 212 8652
Email:

In this section

  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies

Latest news

Strong interest in offshore maritime energy development

... including offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy opportunities … Today (Tuesday 11 October), strong representation from Ngāi Tahu, led by Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai, Gail Thompson (Awarua Rūnaka), Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration), and supported by Jacqui Caine - Office… Read more

© 2022 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • Anamata Māia: Brave, Bold & Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Research and Monitoring
    • Green Energy
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Working Group - Meet the Team
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
      • Lake Onslow Hydro Scheme
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
    • Tiwai Future
      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Just Transition
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Green Hydrogen Project (SGH)
  • Latest News
  • Contact