Architects and Engineers Sign Up for Marae Infrastructure Build

The opening of the wharekai last year, Te Maru o Hikairo heralded the completion of Phase 1 of an extensive building programme to bring the struggling infrastructure of the Marae, up to speed.

This week, the Trust signed contracts with PĀUA Architects and Blake Consulting Limited to kick start the next phase of our Marae development. PĀUA Architects have been contracted to carry out the feasibility study to assess the cost and practicality of upgrading the marae infrastructure.  The feasibility study aims to objectively uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed upgrade, the opportunities, and challenges in the natural environment around the marae and the resources and tradesmen required to nail the project.  

Waikato Tainui provided the Marae with $100K that has enabled the Marae Trust to contract PĀUA to carry out the feasibility study.

Phase 2 of the build includes the installation of a new sewage and wastewater system.  For this part, Blake Consulting Limited has been contracted to assess possible solutions to fix our toilets, showers, and wastewater issues and to come up with a long-term solution. They are engineering consultants based in Otorohanga.  We are also looking at a new ablution block next to Ngā Taiwhakarongorua and a complete refurbishing of the ablutions at the back of Taku Hiahia.

A new feature is a Marae office to house our office administration and marae security.system.  The installation of fire and sprinkler systems into Ngā Taiwhakarongorua, Taku Hiahia and Te Maru o Hikairo meets our marae insurance requirements. In keeping with health and safety regulations, a second entrance / exit is a fire safety requirement for Ngā Taiwhakarongorua.  So, the plan now is to push a side entrance from the wharenui directly to the new ablutions that will also serve as easy access for Kaumatua and Kuia. 

Our funding deadline kicks in next year with the Department of Internal Affairs once the trust has the Feasibility Report.  Hopefully, we’ll be blessed with a positive result by which time the build can be quickly mobilised.  

We expect the work to be completed towards the end of 2021. In the meantime, we need to be fundraising to cover the anticipated shortfall in government funding.

Once this work programme has been completed, there are remaining things on our wish list including a walkway from one end of the Marae to the other, the building of a Whare Mate to the side of Ngaa Taiwhakarongorua, retaining walls and fencing behind Te Maru and at the back of Taku Hiahia and “beautifying” the Marae with gardens of mixed indigenous plantings, possibly establishing Maara Kai for the kitchen in Te Maru and a new gateway.

To the immediate future, our push over the next 18 months is to get the Marae to a level where it is functioning to its full capacity and capability. 

Hapainga e te Iwi

Ko te ōhākī

Te Tumu o Tainui