Our school wharenui!

Area 1 at school is now our Wharenui. 

As the senior class, we have been tasked with creating an entrance way for our school wharenui. Because of this we have been learning about what a wharenui is and what it represents.

Representing the body of a tupuna, or ancestor, the wharenui is built with great symbolism. An explanation of some of the parts wharenui named in the picture, are below.

The tekoteko at the top of the whare usually represents the ancestor, who the whare is usually named after.

The koruru under the tekoteko usually represents a direct descendant of the ancestor

The maihi coming from the sides of the tekoteko as well as the raparapa at the end of the maihi, represent the arms and fingers of the ancestor.

The amo coming down from the sides of the maihi represent the sides of the ancestor.

When you enter a whare, you are not entering an ordinary building, but the body of an ancestor, whose arms (maihi) are outstretched, ready to embrace you.