Maori Meeting House Ruatepupuke II

Step inside a sacred structure from New Zealand.

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Exhibition Summary

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Built in 1881 on Tokomaru Bay, this wharenui (FAH-reh-new-EE) is one of only three such Maori meeting houses now outside of New Zealand. Structural elements of the house form the body of Ruatepupuke (roo-AH-tay-PU-pu-keh), the Maori ancestor who brought the art of woodcarving to the world. Look for his carved face at the top of the roof, as his arms—the long, wooden gables—welcome you inside.

The Maori are the first settlers of New Zealand. They arrived around the 14th century and currently make up about 15 percent of New Zealand’s population. Today, they have a strong presence in New Zealand’s government and society—while maintaining cultural and craft traditions that celebrate the past and flourish with contemporary inspiration.

Bringing People Together

A meeting house like this is the focal point of a marae, a sacred area where members of a Maori community gather for celebrations, funerals, and religious and political meetings. This meeting house is still used in the spirit of its original purpose, welcoming diverse groups of many backgrounds from across Chicago and around the world. Gatherings held on the marae bring people together for events, ranging from dance performances to local community celebrations.

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Gallery

  • Detail of front of Ruatepupuke II – wharenui – Maori meeting house from Tokomaru Bay, New Zealand. Catalog Number 967.143961.

    Photographer(s): Mark Widhalm (c) FIeld Museum

  • Detail of interior of Ruatepupuke II – wharenui – Maori meeting house from Tokomaru Bay, New Zealand. Catalog Number 967.143961

    Photographer(s): Diane Alexander White and Linda Dorman (c) Field Museum

  • Fijian bark cloth (masi)from the collection of A. W. F. Fuller. Catalog Number 2616.272734.

    Photographer(s): Ron Testa (c) Field Museum

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Detail of front of Ruatepupuke II – wharenui – Maori meeting house from Tokomaru Bay, New Zealand. Catalog Number 967.143961.

Photographer(s):Mark Widhalm(c) FIeld Museum

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Māori Meeting House Resources

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