Te Awaroa
Description of Te Awaroa by Te Rangianiwaniwa Rakuraku (English)
The carved room Te Awaroa in Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies of the
University of Canterbury is a memorial to Billy Te Awaroa
Nepia 1933 - 1987. Te Awaroa Nepia, of the Te
Whanau-a-Ruataupare and Te Whanau-a-Te-Aotawaririrangi hapu
of Ngati Porou, was the founder of Māori Studies at the
University of Canterbury. Nepia was the Head of
School from 1975 until his death in
1987.
Carving detail (Tahu Potiki)
Ngai Tahu ancestor carving in Te Awaroa
Mr Nepia's plan was to name the room after Ta Apirana Ngata, the Ngāti Porou scholar, Member of Parliament and leader of the Māori people. Ta Apirana Ngata gained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury in 1894 and was the first Māori to graduate from a university. However, the premature death of Te Awaroa Nepia prompted the desire to recognise the contribution he had made to the University. In consultation with Nepia's family, the room was named and dedicated to Te Awaroa in a ceremony on 18 March 1989.
Te Awaroa embodies the vision of Mr Nepia and was completed in accordance with his wishes. Over the entrance to the carved room there is a pare, which bears the name of the room, Te Awaroa. In the centre of the northern and southern ends of the room are panels, which honour Ngāti Porou for their sons Te Awaroa Nepia and Sir Apirana Ngata. These panels also recognise Ngāi Tahu as tangata whenua of the South Island.
Carving Detail
(Porourangi)
The upper figure of the panel at the northern end is Porourangi and the lower figure is Tahupotiki. Tahupotiki is the founding ancestor of the South Island people of Ngāi Tahu. According to Ngāti Porou tradition, Porourangi married Hamo Te Rangi. When Porourangi died, custom decreed that his wife marry his younger brother, Tahupotiki. Therefore, it is appropriate that the upper figure in the panel on the southern wall represents their mutual wife, Hamo Te Rangi. The lower figure represents Riki, the wife of Tautahi. It is from this marriage that most of the chiefly families of Ngāi Tahu descend.
The kauri wood from which the panels were carved was salvaged from the site of the old university, which provides a link with the history of higher education in Canterbury.
The panel at the northern end was carved by Moana McRoberts, and at the southern end by Riki Manuel.
A kowhaiwhai mural is painted on wooden panels on the walls of the room. Each of the panels presents the changing moods of Papatuanuku (Earth), Tangaroa (Sea) and Ranginui (Sky), which are characteristic of Te Pakihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha (the Canterbury plains).
The first panel, on the north wall which adjoins the east wall,
is predominantly blue and represents Ranginui the sky-father. The three fingers of Ranginui are crossed, symbolising the unity of past, present
and future.
The second panel represents the Southern Alps reaching towards the sky. The mountains are snow-capped, and decorated in the diamond shapes of the patiki pattern to symbolise the sparkling of winter snow in the sunlight.
The third panel represents the Southern Alps in spring. Ranginui's hands, which represent rain, cradle a bright sun. The mountains are brown, and growth is represented by the colour green in the painting of the plains.
The fourth panel represents the north-west wind of early
summer, depicted in a white, swirling pattern flying over
the mountains. The land is depicted in the form of stylised
koru (fern fronds) which it nurtures.
The fifth panel represents the Canterbury high summer. The
sky is clear blue, and the mountains red and
mauve. This panel is patterned with niho taniwha, 'the teeth of the taniwha'
to symbolise the bite of the summer heat.
The sixth panel, at the western end of the south wall, depicts the green hands of Papatuanuku and the yellow hands of Ranginui reaching towards each other, as a symbol of the unity of earth and sky. The many colours and patterns which depict the earth represent the fertility of their union.
The seventh panel represents the realm of Tangaroa which surrounds the mountains which rise above the horizon. The sky is darkening towards nightfall, as the sun declines.
The eighth panel shows the sun setting in a great red ball.
The fishing season is depicted in a sea full of fish. The
currents are symbolised by wavy lines of dark and light blue,
and the waves by white koru.
The ninth and final panel represents in warm shades of red
and brown Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, surrounded by the
green land.
The kowhaiwhai was drawn and painted by Tony Manuel in accordance with instructions laid down by Te Awaroa Nepia.
At the entrance to the school there is a carved
pare, or lintel, over the doors. There are three figures
in the pare, separated by the takarangi spiral pattern. This
shows the separation of Ranginui on the right, and Papatuanuku
on the left, by their son Tane-nui-a-rangi.
Sir Apirana Ngata has been recognised in the waewae which flank the Administrator's office at the downstairs entrance to the school. Each waewae has three figures which represent the three baskets of knowledge, symbolising the search for knowledge that Ngata's life exemplified. The waewae are encouragement to young people to aspire to the highest values in every field of endeavour.
At the end of 1997 the school moved to its new
premises and the decorations in the carved room were brought
with us to our new home and installed in our new Te Awaroa.
The tukutuku panels were hung in various places throughout
our two-storey building to imbue the whole building with
the spirit of Te Awaroa Nepia. The then university Chaplain, Turi
Hollis, conducted a blessing in December 1997 and the complex
was formally opened on the 28th of February 1998.