King Tuheitia will confirm Waipapa Poukai at Hukanui

The King will confirm details for the Waipapa poukai at Hukanui Marae in Gordonton Saturday 13th February, 2021.

King Tuheitia outlined his plan in a meeting this week with the Waipapa Trust incumbent chair Hone Edwards and the chairperson elect, Cathrine Holland after the marae trustees officially announced the marae would be closed for the annual poukai on Friday 12 March, 2021 for an infrastructure rebuild.  The meeting with the King and Te Makau Ariki included Maea Marshall, elder Jack Te Papi Cunningham, the King’s representatives, Te Ngira Simmonds and Te Toki o Te Kiingi, Brad Totorewa and PĀUA achitect Richard Mauriohooho. 

Richard presented the King with an architectural plan that summarised the rebuild of two new ablution blocks as well as the relocation of the drainage and sewage systems from the marae to the front capark.  The plan detailed the installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system in the two wharenui that would allow the marae to sleep a maximum number of people.  At the moment, Richard Mauriohooho said the marae was restricted to 40 people in each wharenui because of health and safety standards.

The incumbent chair and the chair elect both agreed the infrastructure rebuild was a health and safety priority for Waipapa marae long overdue. Hone Edwards was grateful for the financial support the marae had received for their new wharekai from Waikato Tainui grants, the Department of Internal Affairs for marae grants, Trust Waikato and Te Puni Kōkiri.  However, Cathrine Holland concluded funding for the next phase of the infrastructure rebuild went hand in glove with the wharekai and will complete the necessary works to bring the marae up to full strength.

In terms of health and safety, she said one cannot exist in isolation without the other, and so to prospective funders we appreciate their ongoing support.