TE ARAROA

Te Ao Hou, Winter 1952, Page 25

TE ARAROA These sketches of a true old-time Maori township were made by William Jones, a young English painter who came to settle in New Zealand recently. Perhaps the most spectacular sight in Te Araroa is the giant Pohutukawa tree (right) called Te Waha o Rerekohu, which stands on what is now the school site. This historical tree, over 65 feet high with a branch spread of about 120 feet all round, is claimed to be the largest pohutukawa in New Zealand. Planted long ago when the site was still an important marae named Kawakawa, the tree was named after the pataka built next to it. The tree is still strongly tapu today. When the school committee decided recently that one of the lower branches should be cut off to improve the balance of the tree no one could be found willing to do this job and the branch remains. Peti Karaka, Putanga, Tikitiki. Te Waha o Rerekohu.

Opoliki Clothing Factory, started recently by Farmers’ Trading Co., of Auckland, with labour supplied by the Maori Affairs Department. Of 5,000 garments made the first year only three had to be returned. Workers were trained in Auckland by the firm before the Opotiki branch opened. Above, left to right, Mrs Moe Mohaere, Misses G. Tai, E. Hudson, Mary Matchett, Tangi, Oakes. Right, the foreman cutter formerly a labourer, Henry Mihaere. Omaramutu Dining Hall under construction with due observance of tapu. Kei runga: Ko te whare kai i Omaramutu kei te hanga tonu i runga ano i nga whakaaro Maori mo Te Tapu. Takarua Tamarau, Tuhoe Chief and his wife, in front of his meeting house at Otenuku Pa. Kei te maui: Ko Takarua Tamarauraua ko rana wahine. He rangatira no Tuhoe, kei te roro o tona whare nui i te pa o Otenuku.