Toku tūrangawaewae. My place to stand

Abstract

Aotearoa (New Zealand) has been home to the Māori people for well over a thousand years. Māori culture gives New Zealand a unique identity and is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. The first explorers gradually adapted from their tropical (Polynesian) environment to meet the New Zealand climate, and this is evident in the architecture.

Māori people built a diverse range of buildings over a span of 700 years and one of the most iconic structures is the whare tipuna or ancestral house. Its symbolic and expressive forms are some of the many ways in which artists have handed down narratives from generation to generation. The whare tipuna is an essential part of the marae - the marae being a system of connected spaces where Māori customs are practiced, celebrated and sometimes debated. This has remained the same for many, many years and actively contributes to the identity of Māori people and New Zealanders alike.

Contemporary architecture should facilitate a place where the protocols are correct and true, as misinterpretation can have a huge impact on how Māori philosophies are sustained. It is important that, where an architectural concept is founded on Māori culture, the traditional practices are upheld as well as the symbolic. The aim of this design-led research is to examine and test how contemporary Māori architecture can facilitate for traditional practice, art, programme, narrative and knowledge. This thesis examines both the physical and spiritual connection that architecture has to a ‘place’. Precedents from notable architects are examined - examples which display tangible and intangible aspects of culture, where materials speak of the site in which they are placed, where customs are presented and sequential experience unravels a story.

The intention of this thesis is to test how fundamental Māori concepts and protocols, as well as understanding of the ritual processes which occur on the marae, can be used to offer alternative ways in which Māori culture can be experienced by contemporary generations. The aim is to examine how narrative can be conveyed through architectural interventions in order to reconnect a generation of Māori to their ancestral lands, both physically and spiritually. The objective is to design a camp for the descendants of Tuhourangi which will provide them this physical and spiritual connection to Tarawera, resulting in a strong sense of identity and belonging.

Camp Tarawera will be situated at Te Rata Bay - Lake Tarawera. As the site for this research investigation it provides the perfect setting for testing the aims and objectives of this thesis. Tarawera is rich in Māori history, mythology, and natural beauty. The final design outcome is a series of interventions which uses the metaphor of “the guide”, to lead visitors sequentially through the site, unravelling the heritage and Māori myths embedded in its landscape.