About 40 people gathered at Araiteuru Marae on Thursday to unveil a new waharoa (entranceway) between the marae grounds and the open green space beyond.
Araiteuru Marae manager Tania Williams (Ngāpuhi) said the two pouwhenua, or carved wooden posts, were "absolutely beautiful" and a great addition to the space.
"Coming through that pathway you might not identify that this is the marae," she said.
"Having pou on our whenua enables people to understand the space that they're coming into."
Carver Alex Whitaker and his tauira (students), who are completing Te Kunenga o te Ao Tikanga through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, worked with the Marae Council during the year to create the pouwhenua, she said.
"I love ... what they've imbued into those taonga for us. Kotahitanga, manaakitanga, all those types of caring attributes."
Ms Williams said it was great to have students from neighbouring Balmacewen Intermediate School’s kapa haka as part of the ceremony.
"We had the young, the middle-aged and the old, all there and present," she said.
"That's really significant for the name of the piece being Ka Mua, Ka Muri as well, talking about as we walk forward into the future, we look backwards to draw upon those teachings from the past that will enable us to be the best now and to be the best in the future."
They also recognised the whānau and whakapapa of Araiteuru Marae, which was important in te ao Māori, she said.
