Te Pounga Marae

Paraone Netana

Paraone Netana hailed from Taita/Mamaranui in the north and married Ngaiti Piripi. They had eleven children;
Wiremu (Sonny)
Kepa (Kemp)
Alec
Len
Perry
Maude
Mary
Louie
Patrick
Tuhiwai (Purdy)
Puhi
Paraone and Ngaiti settled on the Phillips whanau land on Nathans Road which is off Oneriri Road. Paraone was taken back to be buried at Taita when he passed away, but Ngaiti (Grandmother) was buried in the St Mary's urupa next to her eldest son Wiremu (Sonny) when she passed away. The history of the Nathan family and the whereabouts of each of Paraone's tamariki will be discussed in the Whanau page which can be accessed by clicking on the above photo of Paraone.

Ngaiti Lena Netana (Nee Piripi)

Grandmother was originally from Otamatea and was a member of the Piripi whanau who were one of the biggest Land owners in the district. Uncle Ben Phillips who was Grandmothers brother had a farm down Phillips Road which is off Oneriri Road past the marae.
Grandmother went to live up in Taita after she married Grandfather but story has it that something happened up there that she did not like and she packed all her kids up on a wagon and walked back to Kaiwaka. This trip supposedly took her 3 days, and she never left Kaiwaka again after settling in the Top-House where the marae is currently situated today.
After Grandfather passed away, grandmother left the majority of the land to her 2 oldest boys - Sonny and Kemp. Both farms are still in their respective whanau ownership to this very day.
A more concise history and whakapapa is explored under Whanau on this website where each of Paraone and Ngaiti's children are traced and discussed accompanied by photos. This is an ongoing development and more content is added as and when it comes in from the respective whanau. More discussion around Grandmothers whanau is discussed on the whanau page which you can access by clicking on the above photo of Grandmother.

In The Beginning_ _ _ _ _

The "Top House" was the original church/marae and there were many Church services, weddings and tangi held in this house with Aunty Maude being the last tupapaku to lay there before the marae was built.
The Top House was built by Uncle George Dickson (Aunty Louie Nathans first husband) in around 1946.
The house was the residence of Grandmother up until the day she passed away and many of the whanau have fond memories of being involved with whanau activities such as bring and buy's (Market), cook ups (Pot Luck Dinner) etc which were used to fund-raise for the building of the marae.
The Top House has been home to many families and people over the years and whilst it is in a run down condition, there are plans in place to incorporate the old with the new when the Top House will be incorporated into the planned new complex. Further discussions and photos are discussed on another page which can be accessed by clicking on the above photo of the Top House.

Then the church_ _ _ _

The church was originally moved here from Hakaru in 1958. The church was set up under the Anglican/Church of England faith which was the religion of the Netana whanau in Taita. This was a milestone for the Nathan family considering the Ratana church was quickly becoming the religious faith that most marae in the area were following. There have been many Anglican ministers officiate at the church over the years, but until Uncle Taki Marsden was ordained, the misinisters predominantly served through the Maungaturoto base of the Anglican Diocese.

The first person to be laid to rest in the urupa was Uncle Sonny who died in 1957.
Many of our loved ones now lay at St mary's in the urupa.
More history (including a urupa plan which identifies who lays where) of the church is discussed on another page which you can access by clicking on the above photo of the Church.

Then the marae_ _ _ _

The first building to be put up on the marae site was the front piece of the wharekai which was originally a parker garage. This structure was put up as a temporary structure to be used for Aunty Mary-Lou's wedding when she married Ray Parker. This never changed and slowly there were bits and pieces added on until you have what is a make-shift but sturdy wharekai of today.
The wharehui was later built by the whanau which was lead by Uncle Dave Gage who was a builder, and who was amiably assisted by Uncle Kemp, Uncle Bruce, Uncle Ruff (Who was the marae chairperson at the time). More history of the Wharehui is discussed on another page which you can go to by clcking on the above photo of the wharehui.