New Dining Hall Opened Ceremony At Whakato Pa

The new dining hall built by voluntary labour of young people of the Whakato Pa at Manutuke, with the help and advice of Mr Gus Herkt, was officially opened recently by the Minister of Maori and Island Affairs, Mr Duncan Maclntyre.

Representatives of tribes from many parts of the North Island attended the opening which was conducted with much traditional ceremony.

From left, leading elder Tom Dennis, the minister's escort David Thompson, his daughter Stephanie whose great-grandmother opened the meetinghouse on the marae, and Mr Maclntyre.

The Reverend Brown Turei dedicates the new hall.

The new dining hall.

Ringatu minister Puriri Ere Atara leading the prayers.

At the end of his speech Mr Maclntyre is greeted and thanked by Mr Dennis for the pictures he presented to the people of the marae. They are of carvings in the other meetinghouse of the marae, which is in the Wellington Museum