Funding approved for Infrastructure Rebuild, Stage Two

E te iwi, tēnā koutou katoa.

Great news! 

As alluded to in her last post, the Chair of the Waipapa Marae Trust is pleased to announce the trust has been once again successful with its funding application to DIA, the Department of Internal Affairs and awarded $989,064.00 funding to complete Stage Two, the final stage of the Infrastructure Rebuild at Ngā Tai Whakarongorua, due to start at the beginning of next month.  

Waipapa Marae was one of 18 applications totalling $17,299,147 who applied for the Oranga Marae fund of $13,435,909.00 in April this year. The allocation Committee especially acknowledged the time and effort that went into the Waipapa Marae Trust application and wished Trustees every success in completing this next stage of the Marae development plan. 

Given the total amount applied for, well-exceeded the amount available this round, Trust chair, Cath Holland credits the success of the Trust application to the achievement of the previous build and joint partnership between the Trust, the project manager, PAUA architect Richard Mauriohooho and the construction company ASAP owner, Wes Cooper and his workers.

" Richard tabled months and months of reports with the Trust outlining a detailed account of the building process for the entire infrastructure rebuild of Taku Hiahia, which was marked by Covid restrictions and delays getting building supplies from overseas. The Trust is extremely grateful for the sheer diligence and eye for detail in Richard's monthly reports.  I have no doubt his project management and financial management skills gave us kudos with the funders.  No surprises therefore that we were awarded funding in this latest round to complete our Infrastructure Rebuild."  

Cath says, although the Trust application has ended up with a shortfall of $282K, the funding pot was always contestable with no guarantee of securing current or future funding due to demand.

In the meantime, Cath says the Trust will meet urgently to consider if and how the marae could be opened up,  but only under strict circumstances, to be worked in tandem with the final stages of the Infrastructure Rebuild.  

At the top of the priority list, Cath says,  the Trust is obviously looking ahead to how the Marae can be reopened for next year’s Poukai; if it's possible to do so.  

"We will make every effort to work with our builders, well in advance, to host Poukai 2023.  As we have stressed before, the Trust is liable for the health and safety of everyone on the marae 24/7 especially when the marae is deemed a construction zone and is officially out of bounds.  

‘There is also a small window of opportunity from now until the next stage of the build that commences in August, for the Marae to be briefly open for domestic housekeeping as well as any unforeseen circumstances. However, the need must be one of urgency.  The Trust will not venture down this path if the request isn’t urgent.  Nor will the request be given traction if the risk to health and safety at the time is too high.  But we will deal with each request on a case-by-case basis,” says Cath.  

“In order to re-open the Marae for exceptional requests, a lot of work will be needed to ready the Marae since it's been closed for just over 2 years”. 

The Marae will close immediately again as soon as this next stage of the infrastructure re-build is due to commence next month.” says Cath.   

Both the Project Manager and ASAP have been advised of the successful funding result and given the green light to get the next stage of the rebuild underway.

"All going to plan, we should kick off the final phase of the Infrastructure Rebuild next month.  Given there are no unforeseen hiccups, Taku Hiahia will be completed in October.  Unfortunately, the refurbishing of Ngā Tai won't be completed until after Poukai 2023.  Nonetheless, the bulk of the rebuild will be completed leaving the Trust time to work with the builders to see if there's a way to come up with a plan  for Poukai 2023."

The best-case scenario, says Cath is to cordon off Ngā Tai completely for a shortened one-day poukai with unrestricted numbers and no overnight accommodation.   The trust will work with the builders and the Otorohanga District Council to see if the plan has merit to work within health and safety guidelines.   

"Lastly, my indebted gratitude to our trustees who have worked tirelessly to achieve this successful funding result. "

Ngā manaakitanga everyone!  

Cath Holland

CHAIR 

Waipapa Marae Trust