To the rangatahi – don’t forget your roots
In the heart of Ngaaruawaahia, is a special street lined with homesteads rich with whaanau history and a special connection to Te Puea Heerangi, (affectionately known as Princess Te Puea)
Raima Turner grew up in George Street Ngaaruawaahia at a time where “the community was Turangaewaewae Marae”. Every whanau had a job, the Turner’s job was working on the gardens and the sleeping quarters.
There weren’t many homes on George Street but as time went on, Te Puea had seen the people that worked on the marae, and it made sense for them to move closer to it. She was always looking for an opportunity to house whaanau, especially for workers.
Raima said, “My mother used to live around the corner (with her parents). When she met Dad, she wanted to move out with him. Te Puea heard about this, and said to my grandfather, “Hira, why didn’t you tell me these kids were looking for a home? I can help them.”
Te Puea then put down a deposit for a home in George Street. Aged over time with a few changes to the gardens and a touch of paint, the home is still lived in and loved, visited by hundreds of whaanau each year for different family occasions.
Across from the homesteads is now an empty field, one that is used more often as a horse farm. But in Raima’s days, that field used to be an open garden for the people. They called it ‘The Five Acres’.
“When the workers would finish, they’d go over there and basically have a get-together meal to thank everyone for their work that they’d done at the marae.”
The history of George Street and its homesteads is one of many examples of how different places are important to families. Regardless of location or exterior, knowing this history is to know more about the community and its culture.
It’s something that is encouraged by Raima when she talks about her whaanau,
“For rangatahi, you first need to know where your grandparents used to live and the history behind it, why it’s not allowed to be sold. All you need to know is that land’s never to be sold.”
Raima turner
Homesteads today feel more and more irrelevant as the modern trends come up on top. It seems quite rare now to be able to afford one, let alone live in one with such busy lives. To have any ounce of a homestead left in family is something that should be cherished, as well as the history behind it.
So, as Raima says to the rangatahi, learn the history, and preserve it.
