A retaining wall urgently needed behind Taku Hiahia delays opening of marae

by Waipapa Marae Trust Chair

Torrential rain has meant Waipapa will remain closed for another 2 months while a new retaining wall is built along the entire bank that runs from the water tanks down towards the main road.

The delay comes after trees collapsed last month onto the water tanks at the back of the wharekai, denting one of the tanks.

Trust chair Cath Holland says the collapse of the clay embankment was caused in part by the intense rainfall that hit the entire country earlier in the year.

“Water running off the property next door at 5491 Kāwhia Road made the embankment unsteady.  Coupled with erosion over the years has slowly eaten away at the bank, particularly at the back of Taku Hiahia, where the water has been running onto the roadway.  Our fears were exacerbated by the high risk of water running under Taku Hiahia.  A new retaining wall is now urgent,” says Cath.  

Earlier this week, the chair confirmed Waikato Tainui, the new landlord next door at 5491 Kāwhia Road, has given Waipapa Marae Trust the green light to go ahead with the new retaining wall.

“Waipapa Marae Trust has received a significant grant from Waikato Tainui based on an annual contribution over three years, including the current financial year ending 31 March 2024. We can also report the costs of the remedial work will be shared by the Marae Trust and Waikato Tainui.  This includes the excavation on 5491 to level out the highest peak of the property that runs adjacent to the driveway behind Taku Hiahia.  This will alleviate water flowing down the bank.” 

Cath says this ensures the construction of the retaining wall will safely sit within the boundary of the Marae.

“The final costs of the excavation and building of a retaining wall between the two properties have not as yet been finalised. But the work on the retaining wall will be included as part of the infrastructure rebuild contracted out to ASAP.  An additional positive outcome for the Pā is that the driveway at the back of Taku Hiahia will be widened in the process,” says Cath.   

She says the trust will carry the fee for a surveyor to locate the exact boundary between the properties.  This will confirm the correct position of the proposed retaining wall.

While this is a no-brainer, Cath reminds us that the retaining wall was never part of the infrastructure rebuild and it’s been an added cost the trust never anticipated.

“Initially, it was a ‘nice to have’ further down the track.  Our priority was always focused on fixing the toilets, the sewerage and wastewater systems and installing the fire sprinklers and fire alarms.  Then 2023 arrived with torrential rainfalls that left the main road to Kāwhia with slips and detours on country roads.  And here at Waipapa, we copped trees almost taking out our water tanks,” Cath concludes.

“The completion date for the retaining wall is the end of August.  The marae will then be partially open with Te Maru and Taku Hiahia up for hire.  We anticipate the toilets and the walkway from Ngā Tai will be finished in September and the marae will be formally open again.  My thanks go to our trustees for the hours of extra time they have put into planning and nailing the extra funding. ”

Cath Holland

CHAIR

Waipapa Marae Trust