NZ: Endangered Māori construction methods pass seismic testing | PreventionWeb

Recent research conducted by Professor Anthony Hoete has proven that endangered Mātauranga Māori construction techniques can withstand major earthquakes. He plans to use this knowledge to rebuild a historic Bay of Plenty wharenui.

The original Tānewhirinaki wharenui on Opeke marae near Ōpōtiki was the inspiration behind the study, following Ngāti lra o Waioweka who built the wharenui after the 1860 New Zealand Wars. The iwi later witnessed its demise in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1931.

The most important carvings representing the iwi’s ancestors were saved from the wreckage and remarkably stored in various sheds at the marae for nine decades. However, three attempts in subsequent decade to get the whare standing again failed, due to the loss of Mātauranga (knowledge) on how to reassemble Tānewhirinaki.

#maori #architecture #NZ #earhquake

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