Rules of the Marae and Whare

These rules are intended as a guide only, as each area, and each Marae has its own rules.

These rules are based on Classical Maori.

If you know the Classical Maori Rules, the chances of you offending people are less than if you only know the modern rules.

 

• The area immediately in front of the meeting house is to be kept clear at all times.

• Shoes are left in the porch area, although on some occasions and on some Marae even this is overlooked or not expected.

• Many Marae forbid women to address any gathering in the Whare Hui, but it should be noted that this rule is specific to particular Marae and not the majority.

• Alcohol is not permitted on or near the marae. Some marae apply this rule to all functions, including weddings etc. Others again are open to a request for permission to provide alcohol at social events.
  
   

• Tikanga dictates normally that the right-hand side of the meeting house (the ancestors right hand) is to be occupied by the tangata whenua, while the manuhiri occupy the left-hand side including the rear and then positions left vacant by the tangata whenua. This allows the speaker to address his audience, face to face.

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The Whare Kai.
 

As the name implies, this is the eating house, the place where the "inner being" is satisfied. The whare  kai is a separate building, not necessarily as a physical reality but in some cases as a concept or belief.

The concept of tapu prescribes where food is eaten, where it cannot be eaten, and also where drinks can and cannot be drunk.

To the Maori, food is a common element (noa) and the opposite of tapu.

Whereas the whare tupuna (meeting house) is tapu (sacrosanct) and food cannot therefore be eaten there, the whare kai is free from tapu - the two are at opposite ends of a continuum.