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New Zealand Cultural Architecture


New Zealand Cultural Architecture
Photo Information
Copyright: Scott Thomas (Sharpshooter) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 540 W: 71 N: 1703] (6922)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-04-29
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture, Artwork, Mood
Camera: Kodak Z1275
Exposure: f/5.9, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Friday Theme for 2009/05/01 Cultural Architecture [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-05-01 0:29
Viewed: 317
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my contribution to this weeks Cultural Architecture theme.

This is the Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae, just down the road from the Auckland Airport. A Marae (pronounced ma-rye) is a traditional Maori meeting place which usually consists of a meeting house that is named after an ancestor, a dining room with kitchen facilities as well as the Marae Atea (sacred space in front of the meeting house), and bathroom facilities. The Marae is a symbol of tribal identity and is a meeting place where people can discuss and debate various issues. It is considered by Maori as a Turangawaewae - a standing place, a place of belonging.

The doors were locked so I couldn’t actually get inside, but I called the office when I got home and arranged a visit for the following day, took a bit of arm-twisting though (especially trying to convince her that the photos won’t be used in any tourism advertisements, lol). Might post them some other time.

Whilst talking to the lady in charge of the Marae, she was telling me how most of the Kauri wood for the carving inside had come from the Thames region and was around 300-years old. It had been perfectly preserved as it was resting under the lake, which didn’t give it a chance to deteriorate. The Maori Queens personal carvers did all of the carvings and there were a lot of man-hours involved in both the detailing and structure (particularly the weaving inside). Sadly, the Maori Queen passed away a short time before this Marae was officially opened in November 2006. The Maori King still stops by from time to time however.

This Marae is actually quite tucked away and you definitely wouldn’t know it even existed by driving past. It is just off George Bolt Drive, if you come from the Manukau Side, turn right into Uenuku Way, which is on the right just after the Shell service station. From there, drive past the mini-golf course and you’ll see it between the fitness centre and the childcare centre. The front of the Marae is fenced with skinny Teatree trunks that were all hand-tied to the wooden supports, which look very effective.

If you do decide to visit, you MUST take your shoes off before you enter. It is considered as a cultural insult if you walk into ANY Marae with your shoes on.

I actually had to decrease the saturation from this photo, as the reds really were that bright! Lol. Barely any other PP work, other than resizing and sharpening. It was just about to rain at the time, as you can see by the dark cloud pushing the blue sky out of the way. Poured down about 5-minutes later on the way home.

Thanks for viewing.
szekelykristof, lilimih33, hay_kes, brunorsantana, eosnut, Royaldevon, Dawn, Janice, Derona, teamill, tnahari, werdir, mvdisco, shelbeesmom, hifimusicdai, ele_eng, Athila, mikolaj_cava has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jimkilgallon: Thank You JimSharpshooter 1 05-07 11:40
To mikolaj_cava: Thank You MikolajSharpshooter 1 05-05 01:10
To Redrubin: Thank You LucioSharpshooter 1 05-04 11:35
To RSK: Cheers RonSharpshooter 1 05-03 00:31
To Athila: Thank You AlainSharpshooter 1 05-03 00:29
To LeoM: Thanks Alot RuteSharpshooter 1 05-03 00:23
To soe: Thank You TinSharpshooter 1 05-03 00:06
To alin-m: Thanks AlinSharpshooter 1 05-03 00:04
To Janice: Kia Ora JaniceSharpshooter 2 05-01 23:56
To ele_eng: Thanks Alot AlirezaSharpshooter 1 05-01 23:40
To hifimusicdai: Thanks DavidSharpshooter 1 05-01 23:38
To AKITA: Thank You AkihisaSharpshooter 1 05-01 23:36
To shelbeesmom: Cheers LindaSharpshooter 1 05-01 23:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Scott,
Wow, this is a fine presentation to the theme of cultural architecture. I like the vibrant red ornaments, really interesting to see such a house. Your capture was perfect, managed to handle strong light quite well, shrpness and clarity are excellent. Well done, my friend! Have a nice weekend!
Greetings,
Kristof

Hello Scott!
Very beautiful one for Fridays theme!
Interesting and beautiful architecture!
Nice contrast between red and sky!
Best regards!
Lili

Nice picture and nice theme.Regards.Alin

  • Great 
  • KBE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 452 W: 103 N: 597] (2759)
  • [2009-05-01 0:41]
  • [+]

Hello Scott
Thats a wonderful contribution. Excellent POV and a very good frame.
Nice and clear shot with strong colors.

TFS
Cheers
JZM

Hi Scott
Wonderful capture related with Friday Theme
Great details and colors
Thanks for note
Have a nice weekend
Burak

Hi Scott,
Very interesting architectural vie vith excellent colours, POV, perspective and details.TFS.
Cheers,

hAyAti

Very good, Scott! Great POV, sharpness and colors. Beautiful architecture indeed. Congratulations and TFS!

Abraços,
Bruno

Hello Scott.
Sounds very interesting. Always nice to read such a descriptions.
Good colourful capture of this house.
Have a nice day.
Jan

Hi Scott,
Nice strong lighting makes this one pop off the screen, well done.
I love the 'traditional' seating, very smart ;)
Pete.

Scott
Une architecture très originale et une photo de très belle qualité. Une belle participation au thème du jour.
Amicalement
JJ

  • Great 
  • Dawn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1134 W: 100 N: 3363] (17532)
  • [2009-05-01 1:35]
  • [+]

Kia Ora Scott.. Excellent choice of photo for the theme... and nicely composed..very bright red indeed..Great notes my friend.. thanks for sharing this with us.

Ka kite ano
Awatea (Dawn)

Hello Scott,

What interesting notes!
This is the sort of information we should all digest so that we understand and respect the the culture and needs of other races.

A great pov, capturing the details of the grotesque masks that are an icon of the Maoris.
There is no problem finding the triangle in your shot!

Have a great day,
Bev :-)

Very vivid reds, great notes, you obviously put some effort into getting this photo for the theme. Nice POV.

Kia ora Scott, I was hoping someone would post one of the Maori meeting houses.
Whare is the Maori word for house, and Marae is the open space in front of a meeting house. Behaviour on the marae is governed by strict protocol.
Brightly painted - I wonder what the colours would have been in pre-European days.
And what interesting notes you have written too.
Have you seen the new meeting house built at Carrington?
Ka kite ano
Janice

Hi Scott

Fine shot of this Marae.
When I was down in NZ the day I met up with the other TL members we went to visit another one which had recently been completed, again this was locked but was very finely carved inside and outside, have some pictures that I will upload soon.
Like the contrast of the building against the sky and the details of the carvings.
TFS

Regards Derek

Hi Scott
interesting architecture.
unique items.
well capture, clear details and nice colors.
perfect for Friday's theme.
greetings
tsilla

Great note again - no surprise:)
Here is yet another reason to visit your country .. so rich in cultural things.
Great shot - colors are great, compo is great, and of course your note brings it all to life!
Thanks Scott!
Trudy

Hi Scott,

The Marae is definitely an interesting and colorful piece of architecture. As usual you've done a fine job with your composition and informative note.

Have a great weekend!

Werner

Hi Scott,
WOW!! what a great capture and colors,
Excellent POV. and well presented and composed picture of this great cultural architecture.
Excellent details and beautiful light..
All my compliments
Michel

Hey, this is great! I like the red in this! Very Vibrant, lots of details here, nice levels and above all GREAT notes!
B-)
linda

  • Great 
  • AKITA Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1043 W: 81 N: 66] (12562)
  • [2009-05-01 14:44]
  • [+]

hi Scott,
a very interesting and impressive decoration of the traditional Maori meeting place.
so vivid red and deformationed figures.
perhaps those are for praying the gods and guarding from the evil spirits.
also very powerful and artistic works, those are precious for all people.
thank you,
Akihisa

It has been interesting to see the posts of Maori architecture. I had a tape with Maoris music on years ago and the music was beautiful. I would love to see New Zealand one day. TFS
warm regards
David
sorry no pts left...

Hi Scott
What an amazing structure!
Great redness and excellent sharpness, compositiona and POV
Wish the sky gave you more blue color!
TFS. Alireza

  • Great 
  • soe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 0 N: 107] (2461)
  • [2009-05-01 23:58]
  • [+]

Hi Scott
Nice presentation with useful note of culture. sharp and detail give more interest to visit.
Tin Soe

  • Great 
  • LeoM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 0 N: 61] (302)
  • [2009-05-02 1:16]
  • [+]

Hi Scott,

This is an awesome capture for the Cultural Architecture theme. Love the vibrant tone of red. Couldn't imagine it in any other colour. I also like the angle in which you captured this.

Great all round!!

TFS
R

Bonjour Scott,

Nice contribution to the theme. These red decoration are really cultural. Image is sharp and well exposed. POV and lens angle give a nice perspective. The red really stand out nicely on the blue sky. Nice work and TFS

Alain

  • Great 
  • RSK Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 519 W: 133 N: 973] (7139)
  • [2009-05-02 8:28]
  • [+]

Hi Scott, a perfect image for the cultural & architectural theme. Great combination of both items in the one subject,good details.There is a resemblance in this art form to that of Canada's First Nation Totems.
TFS

Ron

Hi Scott
interesting culture here in this shot
perfect for RED colour
well taken and good note
ciao
have good week
Lucio

Hello Scott! Very interesting architecture. Wonderful colours. Good POV and capture. Perfect contrast. Nice effect. Good luck!

Hi Scott
Excellent perspective of this Marae, the reds really are sublime in this shot as is the detail and exposure. The note was a enjoyable read also.
Well done
Regards
Jim

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