Gathered from our archives: A Maori meeting house nestled in Surrey's verdant landscapes
The Resilient Hinemihi: Nestled amidst the picturesque Surrey countryside, a stone's throw from the charred remains of Clandon Park, stands the remarkable Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito - a 19th-century Maori meeting house that's withstood the relentless march of time, even escaping a deadly volcanic eruption and transcontinental voyage.
Once a place of great spiritual and cultural significance, Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito was carved by the revered Maori master carver, Tene Waitere. It originally resided near the renowned Pink and White Terraces in New Zealand's Lake Tarawera.
The meeting house's miraculous survivalJune 10, 1886, saw the cataclysmic Mount Tarawera erupt, wiping out the nearby village and disguising the Pink and White Terraces under volcanic ash. Against all odds, Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito rose above the devastation. The exiled meeting house eventually made its way to England in 1892, when it was purchased by the Earl of Onslow, who admired Maori culture and deemed it a fitting souvenir of his time in New Zealand.
Remarkably, Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito endured the ravages of time and an unfortunate incident involving its brick and mortar neighborClandon Park's catastrophic fire in 2015. Despite the inferno, the meeting house remained relatively unscathed due to quick action by emergency services. It now resides safely under the care of the National Trust at Clandon Park.
The Hinemihi saga serves as a poignant reminder of the complex history of cultural artifacts traversing the globe and an enduring symbol of Maori resilience and craftsmanship.
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Melanie BryanWith a life dedicated to journalism, spanning national and international publications, Melanie Bryan excels at owning the publish houses, sports arenas, or any other establishment in a pub quiz. She's a freelance picture editor and writer, boasting a long career as the Archive Manager at our platform magazine. Today, she resides in the serene beauty of rural Ryedale, North Yorkshire, frequently embarking on leisurely bike rides before visiting the charming cafes and hostelries of the region.
The Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito, a 19th-century Maori meeting house, offers a fascinating blend of home-and-garden and lifestyle, showcasing the resilience of both its origins in the New Zealand's Lake Tarawera home-and-garden and its current residence amidst the picturesque Surrey countryside. Purchased by the Earl of Onslow to preserve a piece of Maori culture in his home, this remarkable house continues to stand as a testament to the enduring essence of its lifestyle.
