A Whare Whakairo (literally "carved house") more often is translated to mean a Māori meeting house.

Whare Whakairo

Also called a Whare Wharenui (literally "big house") or Whare Runanga ("meeting house"). These houses are said to have originated in the early to middle nineteenth century in Aotearoa (Maori for New Zealand). Originally, these house were carved inside and out with stylized images of the Iwi's (or tribe's) ancestors, but the style used for the faces varied from tribe to tribe. While there are many carved houses still in existence (and indeed, some are still being made), many modern meeting houses are built using "normal building standards" and photographs of ancestors are used instead of carvings. The house always have names, sometimes the name of a famous ancestor of the iwi or sometimes a figure from Māori mythology. Some meeting houses are built where many Māori are present, even though it is not the location of an tribe; typically, a college or school with many Māori students. While a meeting house is considered sacred, it is not a church or house of worship, but relgious rituals may take place in front of or inside a meeting house. No food may be taken into a Māori meeting house.

A Meeting House

These meeting houses are the center of any cultural, business, or any affair which is relevent to the iwi as a whole.

• As an example, when large telecom operators came to the Māori tribes, trying to entice some Māori to work for them, they would send their negotiators and recruiters to the meeting houses of the tribes that were close to the office needing the staff.
• Typically, visitors to the village would be allowed to stay in the meeting house at night.
• Ceremonial occasions, including wedding and funeral typically take place in the meeting house or on the marae in front of the house.
• Many members of the iwi will say that the house is for peaceful meetings. If anyone becomes irate or physically violent, they are asked to leave the house until the can control their temper.

See also

• Māori Culture
• Māori Language
• Aotearoa

External links

• This picture is the opening of Te Wheke Hall in December 30,1901.
• The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois has an original Māori meeting house, called Ruatepupuke II as shown in this photo.
• The British Museum has a large collection of Māori art.

Notes

I'm certain I'm missing many, many details, including detail about the actual effort, the respect Māori have for their master carvers, more examples on the Internet, and the parts of a Whare Whakairo (with diagrams). In general, all of my sources are oral and impossible to cite.

--Shadowhawk 22:29, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)