Plans afoot to make marae a community hub

June 18th, 2011

An estimated $10 million makeover is on the horizon for Te Awhina Marae, with hopes that the marae will become a "focal point" for the entire Motueka community, according to a report in the Nelson Mail.

Te Awhina Marae tumuaki Ann Martin told the newspaper the marae's moemoea – or vision for the future – was to expand, so it could host larger hui and provide more services to the community. It is negotiating with Wakatu Incorporation over a land transfer, which would give it more room to develop over the next 20 years.

Ann said the majority of the marae's buildings had been relocated from elsewhere and "as a result, our maintenance costs are very high".

The buildings that housed the marae's health services, which include alcohol and drug counselling, mental health support and smoking cessation services, were no longer suitable, she said. "There are a lot of opportunities out there and we could be housing more services here if we had the facilities."

The plan is to build a new wharenui and wharekai – or dining room – and to shift the marae's six kaumatua flats. The new wharekai would seat 300 people, whereas the current one seats only 170.

Ms Martin said the vision for the marae was "to be a focal point for both the marae community and the wider Motueka community".

Other aspects of the plan included more space for the independently run kohanga reo (preschool). Wakatu chief executive Keith Palmer, who is also a marae trustee, told the Nelson Mail that land alongside Pah St would be available for the kohanga reo to build on this year.

He said Wakatu Incorporation would give the land to the marae, which is set to double in size in the next 20 years. The rest of the land would be transferred in stages, because it was needed for development. "It will be gifted, but it will be gifted over time."

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