How old is the oldest living marae in nz?

What is the plural of marae?

A marae is like a church or a town hall in aotearoa (new Zealand) although not so much important now as before the pākihā came to nz. It is tapu (sacride). Pākihā are not aloud on the marea with out first being welcomed onto it which is a big prosese which I won't go into. The word marae means a place cleared, free of weeds, trees, etc. A marae is a speical place for your iwi. A Marae however, unlike a church or town hall, often has more than one building. It will often have a whare, or sleeping room, with photos of the ancestors on the walls and beautiful handwork in the form of woven panels on the walls. Then there is usually a large hall where those who belong to that Marae and their guests may eat and food may be prepared. A Marae could be almost like a small village in a way and in some parts of New Zealand it is still used as such. More often it is a place where those who belong to the same Iwi - ie Family or tribe or large extended family, may gather for meetings or celebrations or Funerals (Tangi) and also a place where they can extend hospitality to visitors from out of Town. There is indeed quite a ceremony involved in being 'welcomed on to the Marae' - even for Maori themselves. This process involves singing (Karakia) and 'calling' the visitors on to the grounds of the Marae. It is a very stirring ceremony.