Photos, kawenata and taonga display for Waipapa Poukai 2024 resolved.

Waipapa beneficiaries attending the first of a series of Hui a-Iwi at the Marae on Sunday 25 March 2024, decided a small collection of photos would be displayed at the Poukai this year inside the wharenui, rather than returning the entire gallery of photos to Ngā Taiwhakarongorua.

Beneficiaries decided the photo selection for the poukai would be displayed alongside the Kawenata to King Tuheitia and the mere pounamu gifted by the Tauwhare family to the late Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu as a taonga for the Marae. 

Kaumātua, Te Papi Cunningham reported some photos have faded over time; frames need repairing or replacing and hangings need to be renewed; and that’s best managed after the Waipapa Poukai 2024 in preparation for the 140th poukai celebrations next year. He endorsed a process where each whakaahua will be examined and repaired by Curator Barbara Moke, in consultation with each whānau to ensure their wishes are considered before they’re rehung in the wharenui. 

“I see a time coming when there won’t be room for family portraits being displayed in Ngā Tai if we don’t come up with an alternative policy. And that time is upon us now,” he said.

Trust Chair, Cath Holland says the Waipapa Marae Trust will propose a policy and protocol for displaying whakaahua on the Marae, in the coming months. 

“Whilst the Trust retains the responsibility for all taonga and assets on the Marae, the policy will clarify the entitlement of whānau possession of their photos while on display,” Cath confirmed.   

Te Papi agrees.

“The implementation of this policy rests with the Trust.  They’re responsible for all assets on the marae.  While beneficiaries feel an entitlement or legal right to their family photos, once beneficiaries bring their family portraits onto the Marae, the intellectual possession and responsibility are immediately transferred or delegated to the Trust.  It’s their responsibility.  And if you don’t want to hand over that responsibility, then take your photos home,” suggested Te Papi.

“What exacerbated this situation with the photos which were locked away in the storage room at the Marae for security reasons, was the wilful damage to Marae property when a beneficiary or beneficiaries broke into the storage room recently during a Marae Committee working bee, to get their whakaahua and rehang them in Ngā Taiwhakarongorua.    

As with the photos, all assets on the marae are the responsibility of the Waipapa Marae Trust.  We elect Trustees to look after our Marae property. While we’re fortunate to have insurance coverage, Trustees are liable for any damage that occurs on the Marae, especially in this instance, when force was used to break into the storeroom to access whakaahua. Liability is a huge responsibility for Trustees, which is why it was incumbent upon the Trust to report the wilful damage to the Police” says Te Papi.

In respect of the pending Police Report and as an alternative to a formal legal process, Trust Chair, Cath Holland has confirmed the Trust will seek to identify the person/s responsible for the damage to the storeroom where the whakaahua are stored and facilitate a whānau resolution process as a justifiable alternative to laying police charges. 

Police Officer Ben Muriwai, Pouwhakarite, Senior Partnership Advisor, Waikato District, who was in attendance, agreed. 

“The issue you are currently facing at Waipapa is not uncommon”.

Ben has worked with other Marae throughout the Waikato where the hanging of whakaahua inside whare has been and is still contentious. He described one Marae who had been through a 5-year process, with significant mamae, and is finally close to resolving.

“I suggest you do not want to take that long.  This Hui a-Iwi is an important step for Waipapa to find a way forward.  Our Iwi Liaison Team has dealt with this very issue where the renovation of our wharenui has been challenged by the entitlement of whānau to their family photos. What happens to the photos during the renovations?  Who looks after them?  Where are they stored and what happens to the photos when the renovation is completed?  These are the very questions Waipapa must deal with now, so I encourage you to resolve these issues amongst yourselves.  Work it out Whānau because wilful damage to marae property carries a hefty penalty; a $2000 fine or a prison term of up to 3 months, if the Trust was to proceed with laying charges,” Ben confirmed.

Kruger Wetere, King Tuheitia’s representative for Ngāti Maniapoto agrees with Ben..

“We had the same challenges at my Dad’s marae in Te Kuiti when we renovated the wharenui, Te Tokanganui a-noho.  We went through similar challenges as you’re all facing now where our families were hanging their photos in the wharenui at will.  Like Waipapa, we didn’t have a policy or process in place.  But what was different about the wharenui at Te Kuiti Marae, families were ramming screws through the tukutuku panels.  The wharenui was gifted by Te Kooti. There was so much damage to the wharenui, that we had to close it down for renovation for more than two years.  The Trust made a call where only 5 whakaahua would be displayed in the wharenui ‘mō ake tonu atu’ selected on the grounds of Ngāti Maniapoto whakapapa. Whānau, my Dad didn’t even make the cut and he dedicated his life to Tokanganui a-noho so I understand your mamae.  

I was the Project Manager for Te Maru and this is my Mum’s marae. I was raised on this marae with my grandparents.  I’ve been where many of you are now in memory of your family members who have passed and it's painful. The mamae I felt for my Dad cut to the bone but we worked it out ourselves.  I feel your mamae and I cry with you because I cried when my father’s photo didn’t make the cut. 

At the poukai, yesterday, the King called me into a huii about this very issue.  He’s aware that the wilful damage to marae property over the photos has been reported to the Police.  He wants this sorted out immediately.  Te Papi was in the hui also and the advice from King Tuheitia is to sort it out so we can focus on the 140th celebration of the poukai next year,” confirmed Kruger   

In contrast, some beneficiaries with family and tūpuna photos expressed strong feelings about returning the complete collection to Ngā Taiwhakarongorua for Waipapa Poukai 2024.  

Vivian Manuel is returning for a family kawe mate this year and as whānau pani she’s feeling aroha for her family who she says are experiencing a deep sense of loss because their family photos won’t be on the wall to welcome her whānau home.

“My daughter is coming back from Australia and how do you think that will make her feel not seeing our family portraits in Ngā Tai when she arrives home,” she says with sadness for her family.

The regret and deep sense of loss were felt by other beneficiaries.  Some were quick to blame the Trustees for the lack of communication about the photo collection.

Beneficiaries were represented by kaumātua, kuia, marae committee members, trustees, and the Māori Women’s Welfare League as well as marae beneficiaries who had travelled from afar to attend the Hui. 

With extensive experience as a curator of Māori taonga who has done work supporting other marae through this same process, Barbara Moke urged beneficiaries to take the time to resolve the issues raised at the hui.  

“It isn’t possible to rehang the photos in under 2 weeks before the poukai.  I have inspected the whakaahua and a number are in dire need of repair.  Some have damaged frames and broken glass; others are faded and may need to be replaced. I suggest that I work with the respective whānau to restore the whakaahua, including settling on a set frame size and naming the whakaahua so we all know who they are especially for the generations to come. 

I suggest we plan to have this mahi completed in time for the Waipapa Poukai 2025 for the 140th celebration of the poukai,” Barbara proposed.

Following the 4-hour robust discussion, the following two (2) part motion was put to the floor:

1.    That in respect of the Poukai on 12th March 2024, the process as outlined by Barbara Moke is followed whereby a table will be set up in Ngā Taiwhakarongorua with a korowai, a selection of photos, the kawenata and mere pounamu. 

2.    Following on from this year’s Poukai, Barbara will then work with whānau to repair the whakaahua in time for the Poukai in 2025.

The combined motion was CARRIED. 

15 votes in favour & 4 votes against. 

The next Hui a-Iwi will take place at Waipapa following the Poukai with an update on progress to date.