Saturday 7 March 2020

Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories, 8th March 2020

Today, before our regular monthly working bee, we formally celebrated the opening of our Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - our Garden of Memories. This garden is an area to remember those who came before us and those we have lost.


The preparations with seating, shade, and refreshments were set-up early. 
Jenni carries out the trestle tables.


Mort helps with the setting up.

Just after 10am, Sarah called everyone in to assemble on the lawn...

and then handed over to Uenuku (Sarah's grandson) to lead the ceremony. 
He began with a karakia before...
 

we were led to the Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories area within the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua gardens.


After a waiata, Uenuku spoke in te reo, acknowledging all those who had gone before us. He spoke of the discovery of the artifacts at the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua gardens and their return to the local wharenui (meeting house) Ngākau Māhaki on Te Noho Kotahitanga marae. He acknowledged; Jeanette Fitzsimons* CNZM, the current carers of the Sanctuary gardens, Trevor, Bev, and Sarah our Sanctuary committee who plan and schedule the care of the gardens, and Max a member of their whanau who passed away some years earlier. 
Rosie then translated his words into te pakeha.


Richard Main then spoke of finding the artifacts. As he was prepared a bed for his Unitec student's workshop, in what is now the Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories area, he said, "they came out of the soil", with one piece clearly being a digging tool. He said he vividly remembered seeing an image of a Maori woman, with moko on her chin and forehead who smiled and seemed to acknowledge him. 
A volcanic rock shelf runs along the Southern edge of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua gardens and this is where he discovered the artifacts. Unitec had gardened on the site since 1999 and in 2007, planning for the marae was underway. This is also when the artifacts were discovered. Richard said it was a pleasure to be here today to acknowledge this important archaeological site.


Sarah then unveiled the plaque naming Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories as well as having the Archaeological registration number recorded on it. The pounamu artifact pictured on the plaque is now inlaid into the floor of the Te Noho Kotahitanga marae. 


Native Aotearoa / New Zealand plants have been established in the Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories amongst the rocks that are sited there for seating and contemplation.



Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories

The opening ceremony concluded with the singing of Te Aroha by everyone and a final karakia by Uenuku, before we all walked back to the lawn area for refreshments and morning tea.





Trevor talks with MP Melissa Lee (wearing her blue hat), with her PA Jenny Collins. Melissa has visited the gardens several times over the past two years.

After refreshments, a shortened working bee ensued with a delicious shared lunch to follow. Happy gardening everyone and enjoy the beautiful Te Māra Whakamaharatanga - Garden of Memories.

Our thanks to Uenuku, Rosie, Sarah and their whanau for the ceremony today.

* Jeanette Fitzsimons planted the feijoa tree by the entranceway of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, on 8 November 2002 to mark the launch of the 'Organic Farm New Zealand' organisation. (On the same day the Hon. Jim Sutton, then Minister of Agriculture planted the olive tree at the front by the road).