Descendants of Guide Bella are unwavering in their commitment to complete the restoration of their whare, the former home of pioneering guide Ihapera ‘Guide Bella’ Papakura, in Whakarewarewa Village.  

Her mokopuna Bella Moke has been the kaitiaki of the whare and even lived in it when it was safe and sound.

“Last year would’ve been a hundred years since it was built, and we were hoping that we would have that done and had a huge big ceremony to celebrate the hundred years, but we’ve struggled with funding, and it’s an ongoing job,” says Bella Moke.

“Actually, it’s about my Nan, really, she, like everyone’s Nan, was number one in our world. This represents her, and then of course, knowing Bella Papakura, who she was,” says Bella Moke.

“We feel obliged to carry the legacy for looking after the whare for the mokopuna.”

The restoration of the whare, built one hundred years ago by Aperehama Wiari, has been an ongoing effort since 2015, aimed at addressing damage and ensuring its structural soundness for future generations.

“It’s really important to ventilate it and to get it structurally sound again,” said Henare Warmsley, a whanaunga, noting issues with borer and steam damage. He said that for the whānau, the whare is a “very special place,” and they get excited when tourists visit and want to know “what the kōrero is about this whare.” 

The whānau’s ultimate goal is to raise $98,000 for the ongoing work. To date, they have collected approximately $18,000, leaving a shortfall of about $80,000 to accomplish their objective.

E hia kē ngā maumaharatanga kei a Kanea Moke mō te whare nei o tōna tupuna kuia

“E whā kē ngā moenga i roto rā, nā reira he tino whare moe tēnei mō te whānau katoa, ko ōku whanaunga mai te Nōta, ko ōku whanaunga mai, Taupō ka haere mai, ka noho ngātahi,” hei tā Kanea Moke.

“He mea āhua wairua i te mea ki ahau kaha ki te rongo i te waiata pākete whero ki ngā konohete huri rauna i tēnei rohe, pai ki au ēnā e āhei ana mātou ā-whānau ki te hikina i ngā taonga o tōku kuia ki te taumata o tōna waiata,” hei tā Kanea anō.

“I a mātou e haere ana ki Ingarangi i tino rongo mātou i te aroha o Ingarangi ki a Kuia Makereti, nā reira i tīmata rātou ki te kōrero me pēhea te whakahou i a Tūhoromatakaka ki a hoki ki tōna e tino ātaahua ai, engari mōku anō hoki te whakarau, tatari kei te whakahou tonu mātou i te whare o tōna tuakana, nā reira ā tōna wā ka neke ki tērā pea.”