Auckland Council’s Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee has approved more than $1 million in funding from its 2022/2023 Cultural Initiatives Fund – a fund for marae and papakāinga/Māori housing development in Tāmaki Makaurau – for 10 local projects.
Committee chair, Councillor Alf Filipaina says that marae and papakāinga development are priority outcomes for Māori in the Auckland Plan and in the council’s Long Term Plan.
“Marae are hubs that support whānau and community well-being. They are a critical cultural connection for mana whenua and Māori communities,” he said.
“In addition, marae manaaki (host) the wider community in times of need. As the region grows and we look to build more resilience, marae are playing an ever-increasing role.
“We saw this demonstrated during COVID-19 lockdowns when marae quickly mobilised to support communities with essential food, social and health services.”
The committee approved the following 10 applicants for funding totalling $1,199,662. The applications in this round support marae and papakāinga planning and design, professional fees, capital infrastructure, marae maintenance and repair, business planning and asset management.
| MARAE | APPROVED FUNDING |
| Ngaa Hau E Whaa o Pukekohe | $170,000 |
| Parish of Waipipi Lot 369a Trust (Rereteewhioi Marae) | $55,662 |
| Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust (Te Henga Marae) | $75,000 |
| Auckland Tuhoe Society T/A Te Tira Hou Marae | $79,000 |
| Te Mahurehure Cultural Marae Society Inc | $170,000 |
| Ruapōtaka Marae | $100,000 |
| Manurewa Marae Trust Board | $170,000 |
| Pāpatūānuku Kōkiri Marae | $110,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $929,662 |
| PAPAKĀINGA | APPROVED FUNDING |
| Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust | $100,000 |
| Motairehe Marae Trust | $170,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $270,000 |
| TOTAL | $1,199,662 |
Natasha Kemp of Manurewa Marae said the funding from Auckland Council’s Cultural Initiative Fund was much needed to repair a leaking roof in the marae’s Matukutureia and Matukutururu building.
“This building is the core of our marae, symbolising how the land provides for us and how it has an unbreakable bond with our people,” she said.
On Aotea Great Barrier Island, Sonya Palmer of the Motairehe Marae Trust said that the funds will enable a marae and papakāinga feasibility study for the island.
“Our feasibility study will work towards providing much needed housing on an island that has very few rentals, meaning kaumātua and other whānau return home to find no whare and little resource to provide warm, comfortable housing,” said Ms Palmer.
