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“Ko Pukeone, ko Tuao Wharepapa ngā maunga
Ko Motueka te awa
Ko Te Awhina te marae
Ko Tūranga-a-peke te wharenui
Ko Ngāti Rārua, ko Te Āti Awa nga iwi
He wānanga mō te iwi o Ngāti Rārua me tō rātou marae ko Te Awhina.
Te Awhina Marae in Motueka was established on an old pā site (fortified village) that dates back to pre-European settlement. Te Awhina Marae stands proudly under its two maunga Pukeone and Tuao Wharepapa.
The Motueka River runs swiftly, bringing life and nourishment to the district.
The tangata whenua in Motueka are Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Rārua. To incorporate these iwi, the kawa for Te Awhina is Tai Ngā Kawa (a combination of two protocols).
The first modern building on the site was Te Ahurewa Church, built in 1897. Church services are held on the third Sunday of each month.
The wharekai was opened in 1958 to provide a facility for the Māori community and, in particular, for seasonal workers who had come from all over the country to harvest tobacco and hops.
Te Awhina's carving school, the only one in the region, was established in 1987 to carve the wharenui and provide training in the traditional art of whakairo.
The wharenui -Tūranga-a-peke - was opened in 1990 and two years later, the kaumātua flats, which provide housing for the elderly and enhance marae life.
On-site is a kōhanga Reo and the Mobile Māori Health Clinic, which also incorporates the Family Planning Service. The Contemporary Music and Performance Course, Music and Self Employment and Toi Māori (Māori Arts) and te reo courses are offered for 'Training Opportunity'.
Te Awhina also caters for the Motueka, Nelson and Marlborough communities, other groups throughout New Zealand and touring parties wanting to have a marae experience.
Above all, Te Awhina is a 'living' marae. It is vibrant in its learning, and enthusiastic in its teaching." TVNZ; tvnz.co.nz; 19/10/2007
Nuki Tākao (Ngāti Rārua, Te Āti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe)
Rore Stafford (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rārua)
Ropata Taylor (Ngāti Rārua, Te Āti Awa)
Te Tio Stephens (Ngāi Te Rangi)
Hera Burrows (Tainui)
Te Tahi Tākao (Ngāi Tūhoe)
Sean Delaney (Te Aupouri)
Arapeti Ruri (Ngāi Tūhoe, Tainui)