Rebirth: Tapu Te Ranga Marae Fundraiser

In the early hours of Sunday 9 June 2019, Tapu te Ranga Marae in Island Bay was completely destroyed in a horrific fire, leaving the community devastated. To help with the fundraising efforts, the music and DJ students of Te Auaha Institute of Creativitiy will be running 2 events back-to-back, with all proceeds going toward the rebuilding of one of our city’s important cultural landmarks.

$10/night, tickets on the door.

History
Cut into a hillside, Tapu Te Ranga Marae stood proudly. A living, urban Marae founded by Bruce Stewart and his whānau (family). The Tapu Te Ranga Trust has overseen the charitable programmes and kaupapa at the Marae since the 1970's.

This Wellington tāonga (treasure) is open and shared with people from ngā hau e whā (people from the four winds). The Marae was a place of gathering, learning and community. She is a strong social, artistic, cultural and environmental statement of living Māori in today's world.

Wellington, Te Whanganui-a-Tara is the rohe (area) of Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The Marae is named after Island Bay’s coastal Island 'Tapu Te Ranga' (sacred rising). Elsdon Best wrote that it is an ancient Hawaiki tapu house name. Ngāti Ira used the island as a pā (fortified village) and it is believed that Kupe was on the island when he was confronted with a giant octopus.

The heritage-listed building was the world’s largest, tallest, greenest and fully wooden house on wooden piles built of recycled materials. The building consists of 11 stories, covering 38,000 square feet and reaching 131 feet high. Manuhiri (visitors) from right across the world have been embraced by the openness and warmth of the Marae.