Ōrongomai Tū Tonu

Image credit: Ōrongomai Marae 1988; whare whakairo detail; koruru and ridge beam (tāhuhu), photography by Eric Wood, 1988, courtesy of Upper Hutt City Library.

From the bold decision to establish a marae in the heart of a growing city, this exhibition traces how Ōrongomai came into being. It celebrates the visionaries, builders, and cultural leaders who shaped its foundation, including the powerful legacy of Mā-wai-hakona, whose performances carried Ōrongomai onto national and international stages. At its heart, this is a story of belonging: how a community created a place for itself, and how that place continues to serve, welcome, and grow. Ōrongomai Tū Tonu invites you to experience a living history and the people who continue to shape it.