Maori

This is a Maori Meeting Hut.  It is not the oldest, but it was built in 1940 both to commemorate the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and to reaffirm the importance of Maori heritage in the identity of New Zealand.  Like all such buildings, it is a work of art - a master piece - as well as being a place of peace and tranquility where heritage and ancestry are the main focus.

One of the striking parts of our recent travels in NZ has been the encounter with Maori culture which is being retained through an assertive effort from Maori people not to be simply engulfed by the tsunami of European culture.  It does bring to mind the effort in Scotland and Wales to retain the Celtic languages, but here there seems to be a greater critical mass of Maori working to sustain their identity.