POUKAI

                                                                                      

Te Mana Motuhake Kingitanga 150 years

                                                                                                                              
 
 

 

''Kua whakatuuria e ahau teenei kaupapa hei whaangai i te pouaru, te pani me te rawakore, he kuaha whaanui kua puare ki te puna tangata me te puna kai"

"I have instituted this gathering to feed the widowed, the bereaved and the destitute; it is a doorway that has been opened to the multitudes of people and the bounty of food"                    - Kīngi Tāwhiao

 

On 10th March 1988, the first poukai was held at Aotearoa Marae following a question posed by Te Arikinui Te Atairangikahu to koro Pukerau, "Awhea koutou ka whakatu poukai?" A hui was called at it was decided by the whānau to alternate poukai between Rāwhitiroa (Owairaka) and Aotearoa. 

2010 Aotearoa will host it's 11th Poukai with Rāwhitiroa celebrating it's 80th Poukai in 2011.

Te Kīngitanga, the Māori King movement, started in the 1850's in response to increasing pressure on Māori to sell their land to the Crown. In 1885 Tāwhiao, son of the first Māori King Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, first instituted Poukai (annual visitations) to console his people who were widowed, bereaved and destitute in the wake of conflicts between the military and Māori landowners. He saw the gathering of Māori at their local marae as a way to bring people together to feast, grieve and entertain; with Poukai developing into an event which would later ensure direct consultation of the people with the King.

Since the first Poukai at Whatiwhatihoe in 1885, Poukai has spread to 30 marae around the North Island from Shannon to Te Teko and the wider Waikato region. It continues today through the presence of Kīngi Tuheitia. May 2nd 2009 ends the 150th year celebration.

 

POUKAI DATES 2009

01 Jan      - Horahora
18 Jan      - Kokohinau
31 Jan      - Taniwha
14 Feb     - Hukanui
28 Feb     - Maurea
07 Mar     - Poutu
09 Mar     - Parawera
10 Mar     - Rāwhitiroa (Owairaka)
11 Mar     - Rakaunui
12 Mar     - Waipapa
13 Mar     - Maketu
14 Mar     - Okapu
18 Mar     - Turangawaewae
28 Mar     - Marokopa
29 Mar     - Te Tokanganuianoho
04 Apr      - Huria
10 Apr      - Papaorotu
19 Apr      - Ngataierua
25 Apr      - Tainuiawhiro
23 May     - Taheke
14 Jun      - Pohara
31 Aug     - Whatapaka
13 Sep     - Tauranganui
08 Oct     - Waahi Pa
12 Oct     - Mangatangi
07 Nov    - Ngatira
24 Nov    - Te Awamarahi
05 Dec    - Waikare
13 Dec    - Reretewhioi
 
 
For more info click here
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated 20 Apr 2009