Ko te whare matua e tū ana i tētahi marae, arā, te wharenui, e tohu ana i tētahi tipuna o te iwi nō rātou te whare. He whare moe, he whare huihui mō te iwi. He mea whakairo, he mea whakanikoniko ētahi wāhanga o roto, o waho o te whare.
The principal building standing on a marae, which represents an ancestor of the tribe, and is used as a sleeping or meeting house for the people. Parts of the interior and exterior of the house are carved and embellished.
He maha ngā whare whakairo i whakatūria i ngā marae maha, puta noa i te motu, i te wā i a Apirana Ngata.
Ko te whakairo, ko te kōwhaiwhai, ko te tukutuku ngā toi matua e toru o te whare whakairo.
Nō te ngahuru tau waru tekau i tīmata ai te whakatū whare whakairo ki ētahi o ngā whare wānanga me ētahi kura, puta noa i te motu.