Marae - What does it mean?
marae | |
(archaic) a Polynesian sacred altar or enclosure
:* 2004': The path ended down by the sea at a crumbling ‘ingot’ of black coral, twenty yards in length & in height two men. ‘A '''''marae'' , this is called,’ Mr Wagstaff informed me. ‘All over the South Seas you see ’em, I’m told.’ — David Mitchell, ''Cloud Atlas
the courtyard of a Maori wharenui or meeting-house and the buildings around it