Kaumātua advises Poukai Hui Waipapa Marae will not host the Poukai 2021

Waipapa Marae Trust representatives attended Ngā Panepane Poukai Hui at Hopuhopu last week with Jack Te Papi Cunningham, our Rangatira Kaumatua supported by our Marae Toopu reps.  Te Papi advised the poukai hui, Waipapa  would not be hosting a Poukai in 2021 because of our major infrastructure build.  He understood this included the installation of a new sewage and wastewater system, new shower and toilets and the installations of new fire emergency systems.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fact the marae didn’t have a health and safety plan to deal with food preparation during a pandemic, the infrastructure upgrade was already part of our Marae Development Plan as well as our Annual Plan 2020-21,” he said.  

“In discussion with the marae trust, our trustees are mindful that this will be the first time that a Poukai has not been held on Waipapa Marae in 134 years.  However, our infrastructure is broken and needs to be fixed.  Engineers have already been onto the marae to test the new sewerage and drainage sites as well as the ceiling infrastructure in the two wharenui for fire alarms and water sprinklers.  It’s best the trust undergo an infrastructure rebuild now and fix it because health and safety is paramount in a pandemic climate.” Te Papi said.  

Tomorrow evening the Marae Trust will meet to consider two alternative options that have been offered by other Marae. Once the Marae Trust has made a decision and confirmed an arrangement with our kaumātua, we will advise our whānau immediately. 

Chairman, Hone Edwards confirmed all matters to do with tikanga on the marae was referred immediately to our kaumātua as directed by beneficiaries at the Special General Meeting in August this year and in accordance with our marae charter ratified at the AGM in November, 2020.