Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki Epsom marae

The name of the marae - Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki - acknowledges the history of the area.

Ancestors of the Tāmaki people brought soil with them from Hawaiki. It was buried on top of a hill which is now a part of Te Kura Akoranga o Tāmaki Makaurau. A carved pole marked the spot.

This place was highly tapu (sacred) to the early Auckland tribes, especially the Waiohua people who lived on and around Maungawhau (Mt Eden). They came to Te Pou Hawaiki to perform their karakia (prayers) before beginning an expedition and again on their return. The tūāhu, or sacred altar, was located there.

In 1973 Mahuta Tuhura, a student at the Epsom Campus, promoted the idea of a marae. The idea was supported by staff and students within the Māori Studies Department and across campus.

Tarutaru Rankin was the Head of Māori Studies at that time, and he was the main driver behind the project. Mark Klaricich was the main carver and on Saturday 19 November 1983, the wharenui - Tūtahi Tonu - was officially opened.

In July 1996, the wharekai was officially named Te Piringa having inherited the name from the Early Childhood Centre in H Block which had moved to another area on campus.

Ko Maungawhau, Ko Maungakiekie ngā maunga
Ko Waitematā, Ko Manukau ngā whanga
Ko Tūtahi Tonu te Whare
Ko Te Aka Matua ki Te Pou Hawaiki te Marae
Ko Niwaru te waka
Ko Tuputupu Whenua te tangata

At the end of 2023, when the Faculty of Education and Social Work moves from Epsom Campus to the City Campus, the marae will also be moving to a new location. A major part of the relocation project is for the design, relocation and restoration of Tūtahi Tonu wharenui.

The project for the relocation of Tūtahi Tonu is in progress. Documentation providing information and updates related to this part of the project can be viewed by clicking the link here.