Matai Aranui Marae

Matai Aranui Marae Nau mai haere mai nga whanau o Matai Ara Nui Marae. Mātai Aranui Marae is the tupuna Marae of Te Hikutū Hapū.

Through our Marae page we hope to share whats happening at our Marae with all of you living away from home. There are three Marae situated in Whirinaki: Mātai Aranui, Moria and Pā Te Aroha. The Whare Tupuna (ancestral house) is unusual in its design as it was built in 1876 by a French Canadian, Jack Flesher who married the sister of a local chief (descendents of this union are still in th

e area). Originally the Whare Tupuna was built as a community hall similar in basic design to numerous community halls in rural areas of Aotearoa New Zealand. It commenced use as the Whare Tupuna of the local hapu in 1880s. The fact that Mātai Aranui is not designed as a traditional Whare Tupuna or Wharenui does not in any way diminish its significance or importance to the hapū of Te Hikutū. The name Mātai Aranui is derived from Mātakitaki (looking to something) Mātai and Ara; the pathway which leads to the Atua, Aranui the broad pathway. The pathway which those of us living do not see until we pass on. Loosely translated then, the name Mātai Aranui refers us to “look to the wide pathway of our Atua”. Timber for this construction was felled from the bush around Tuwhatero, te rere o Whirinaki, by local men including Rawiri Wikaira. The Hapū that affiliate to Mātai Aranui Marae are Ngāti Parenga, Ngāti Kerewheti, Ngāti Tuapango, Ngāti Te Hikutū, Ngāti Kairewa and Ngāti Whānauwhero. The hapū of Te Hikutū is centred around Whirinaki, we join with our whanaunga, the hapū of Mahurehure, Ngāti Hau and Ngāti Kaharau on the west side. To the east Te Hikutū is neighboured by Ngāti Korokoro, Ngāti Wharara and Te Roroa. Te Hikutū's rohe is further defined by the maunga Te Ramaroa and the Hokianga harbour to the north. Te Hikutū is one of the oldest hapū in Aotearoa New Zealand. If a person affiliates to Te Hikutū, then that person descends from Kupe. Many of the Ngāpuhi signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi come from Te Hikutū. There are a large number of people who can whakapapa to Mātai Aranui Marae. There are approximately 500 whānau members living locally, and many more members who have an active involvement with the Marae. Many of these people live across New Zealand and increasingly Australia. Our current Marae Trustees are:
- Anna Brown (Chairperson)
- Samantha Broad (Secretary)
- Gina Selwyn (Treasurer)
- Paula Hohua
- Irene Hancy (Lifetime Trustee)
- Lawrence Wikaira
- Hokena Selwyn
- Krystyna Selwyn
- Nikki King
- Dallas King
- Missy Naera
- Maraea Handley
- Tane Wikaira
- Iona Wikaira
- Dawn De Oliveire
- Beatrice Cherrington

31/10/2025

Marae Sponsorship 1–100 Fundraiser!
Kia ora whānau! 💚
As most will know funding is very skimp at the moment for kaupapa maori so, We’re raising funds to help our marae — and we need your support!

💰 How it works:
Pick a number from 1–100 and pay that number (e.g. #25 = $25).
Every dollar helps with:
🛏️ New mattresses, pillows & linen
Let’s come together to keep our marae strong, comfortable & ready for our whānau for generations to come 💪🏽
Comment below or message us to choose your number before it’s gone! 🔢💚

Please make payment to account below

Whare Tupuna Account
06-0350-0897815-50

Ka nui te mihi for your aroha and tautoko 🙏🏽

1. Gina Wikaira 💲
2. Ann Goodwillie 💲
3. Bronwyn-Anne Wikaira
4. Bronwyn-Anne Wikaira
5. Marcia Wikaira 💲
6. Kay Nikki Winikerei
7. Kay Nikki Winikerei
8. Kay Nikki Winikerei
9. M Pomare 💲
10. Renee Murupaenga 💲
11. Seynia Watene Kidwell 💲
12. Lynette Rawiri 💲
13. Taumārere and Taikirau Watene 💲
14.
15. Lynette Rawiri 💲
16. Ellen Brown 💲
17. Chantal De Sousa 💲
18. Kristina Muller 💲
19. M Pomare 💲
20. Anthony Brown 💲
21. Andrea Hall 💲
22. Bronwyn-Anne Wikaira
23. Kitty Brundell 💲
24. Andrea Hall 💲
25. Te Whānau Naea 💲
26. Naysh 'n' Leaf Graham
27. Chantal De Sousa 💲
28. Lauryn Moke
29. Dhaynah Kinita 💲
30. Anthony Brown 💲
31.
32. Mel Wikaira
33. Louise Maika
34. Ellen Brown 💲
35. Fabian Kinita 💲
36. Nicole Tepana
37.
38. Tiffany Witehira whānau 💲
39. Seynia Watene Kidwell 💲
40. Caro Bro
41.
42.
43.
44. Chantal de Sousa 💲
45. Annette Karanga
46. Bronwyn-Anne Wikaira
47. Kahu Morunga 💲
48. Tiffany Witehira whānau 💲
49. Maureen Muller 💲
50. Grace Aupouri
51. Maureen Muller 💲
52. Tiffany Witehira whānau 💲
53. Kahu Morunga 💲
54. Roma Scott 💲
55. Lyza Duffy
56.
57.
58. Nicole Tepana
59.
60. Jana Rawiri
61.
62. Tiffany Witehira whānau 💲
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70. Iona Wikaira
71.
72. Lauryn Moke
73.
74.
75. Bronwyn-Anne Wikaira
76. Marlene Kaio 💲
77. Spider Kaio 💲
78. Louise Maika
79.
80. Porky Merylina Hoana Joan 💲
81.
82. Kristina Muller 💲
83. Roma Scott 💲
84.
85.
86.
87.
88. Chloe Fergusson - Tibble 💲
89. Storm Bell 💲
90. Renee Murupaenga 💲
91. Lawrence Wikaira 💲
92. Roma Scott 💲
93. Nicole Tepana
94. Margaret Te Awa
95. Marcia Wikaira 💲
96. Gaiel Wikaira 💲
97. Jaxyn Bell 💲
98. Ann Goodwillie 💲
99. Gina Wikaira 💲
100. Maraea Handley 💲

Tēnā koutou e ngā uri o Te HikutūUPCOMING WĀNANGATe Hikutū Mandate Information Wānanga.🔺 Sept 13th @ 10am.🔺 Mātai-Aranu...
28/08/2025

Tēnā koutou e ngā uri o Te Hikutū

UPCOMING WĀNANGA

Te Hikutū Mandate Information Wānanga.
🔺 Sept 13th @ 10am.
🔺 Mātai-Aranui Marae - Whirinaki

Te Whakaminenga o Te Hikutū Hapū Whānau Engagement Trust has organised for Te Hikutū to have a Mandate Information wānanga. Facilitated by our Moko Kauri Ltd whanaunga.

🔺📋 Please Confirm Your Attendance Online/In Person Using this link:

https://forms.gle/a4b2VzorvL9BXorw5

🔺📷 Google Meet Hui Link:

https://meet.google.com/zer-ouvh-uug

🔺 Any Pātai About The Mandate Proposal?
Please Email: [email protected]

28/08/2025
13/07/2025

Kia Ora, to keep us all on the same page - all trustee huis are on every second Tuesday, every month at the marae from 5pm. Kanohi ki te kanohi only..

Kia ora e te whānau,Sorry it's taken ages to get this up and out there. This is our monthly lawn mowing roster for us th...
30/06/2025

Kia ora e te whānau,
Sorry it's taken ages to get this up and out there. This is our monthly lawn mowing roster for us the trustees. If any of you are planning to come home and want to awhi at any time please contact whoever's on the list for that month. Thru messenger. All awhi is much appreciated

25/05/2025

Our roof working bee cancelled, the weather not looking good
Mauri Ora

12/05/2025

WORKING BEE
THIS SATURDAY 17th MAY
8am START

Reminder whanau:We have our Marae fundraiser kai this coming Sunday still bookings available 🙂Nau mai haere mai whanau
06/05/2025

Reminder whanau:
We have our Marae fundraiser kai this coming Sunday still bookings available 🙂
Nau mai haere mai whanau

Kia ora whanau We are doing a mother's day kai fundraiser ❤️ All details below 👇to book you a spot or a table please ema...
03/04/2025

Kia ora whanau

We are doing a mother's day kai fundraiser ❤️

All details below 👇
to book you a spot or a table please email
Gina Wikaira
[email protected]

Bookings are essential whanau this is not a turn up on the day event

Mauri ora whanau

Kia ora whanau We have set this give a little page up to help us get repairs and upgrades done on our marae. It is needi...
01/04/2025

Kia ora whanau

We have set this give a little page up to help us get repairs and upgrades done on our marae. It is needing some big mahi, Any tautoko would be greatly appreciated

Nga mihi.

Here is the link

Help Us Revitalize Our Marae: A Place for Our Whānau, Now and into the Future

28/03/2025

Kia ora whanau

Just an update Gina Wikaira is the new secretary and booking person please contact her with any future bookings or enquires

[email protected]

Nga mihi
Sam

Address

Wikaira Road
Whirinaki
0473

Website

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