Manurewa Marae

Navigation

Cross Cultural Integration

Cross Cultural Integration

As a result of the hui held on 5th March 2008, the following action plan was developed. The event which this group came up was called

 “Taonga” Bridging Cultural Divides

Click here to view their action plan which they have developed towards this event.

On Saturday 7th June the Taonga Cultural Integration day was held at the Manurewa Marae, and was a successful day of sharing cultural treasures which were left to us by our ancestors.  

This was a kaupapa where Manurewa marae and Ideal Success invited the community to an educational experience of "Taonga" cultural integration through sharing our cultural treasures. Present at this kaupapa were the leaders and representatives from the Iraqi, Iranian, Philippines, Cambodian, Thai, South African, Assyrian Universal Alliance, Semitic peoples indigenous to Mesopotamia, Mediterranean Caucasoid, Arabs and Jews. Prior to this event happening a couple of community introductions to the event was held.

These two introduction meetings held at the Manurewa Recreation Centre were held and facilitated by Ideal Success and one of our Kaumatua Alec Tairua as a means of sharing to the community about our cultural practice of Pohiri, Whaka -eke, Karanga, Karakia, Whaikorero and Hariru.

This kaupapa was also an ideal way of also sharing of our understanding of Matariki in that a number of cultures that were present on this occasion also shared their similarities around how they viewed the stars, and the environment in their homelands.

Acknowledgement is extended to Kaumatua of our Marae, Alec Tairua, Bobby Clarke, Tame Wiremu, and Victor Aubrey for the sharing that they gave in terms of our Marae protocols and etiquettes being expressed to the Manuhiri that were welcomed onto our Marae under this kaupapa of Taonga Cultural exchange.

There were a number of cultures and ethnic groups represented in this Taonga Cultural Integration through sharing of cultural treasures left to us by our ancestors who included leaders from the Iraqi sector, Cambodian, Thai, Chinese, other Asian, Kurdish, and Assyrians who were Semitic peoples indigenous to Mesopotamia. They are Mediterranean Caucasoid and are ethically distinct from Arabs and Jews.

Assyrians have practiced two religions throughout their history "Ashurism and Christianity. Ashurism was of course, the first religion of the Assyrians. There are 3,000 Assyrians living in New Zealand most of them living in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton, with Manurewa being the city that hosts the majority of Auckland Assyrians.

Also shared with the Manuhiri were the protocols and etiquettes around the flying and lowering of the Kingitanga Flag and the special significance that surrounds the whole process with karanga, and Karakia being undertaken in terms of meeting the criteria as set down by flying Te Arikinui Te Atairangi Kaahu flag or Kingitanga flag?

Shared with all present was the design and origin of the Assyrian flag. The flag was designed by the Assyrian Universal Alliance in 1968. All elements in the design come from symbols from Assyrian beliefs. It is universally accepted by Assyrians and those non-Assyrians who recognize the Assyrian Nation (Most Arabs do not).

The Assyrian flag consists of a golden circle at the centre which represents the sun. By its exploding and leaping flames it generates heat and light to sustain the earth and all it's living things. The four pointed star surrounding the sun symbolizes the land, its light blue colour means tranquillity.