Listen Now: 
A Northland iwi trying to rebuild a burned marae has been helped by crews working for a Russian oligarch.
Ngati Wai chair Hayden Edmonds says Alexander Abramov has been very helpful to the Mokau project.
Heavy equipment being used to build the steel magnate’s $50 million luxury lodge at Helena Bay 5km south of Mokau was loaned to clear the site after the wharenui Te Uri o Hikihiki burned down in November 2013.
He says the whanau are now going through the consent process to rebuild.
Project manager Clive Stone says planning is almost complete and the community is seeking resource consent.
Helena Bay Holdings managing director Christopher Seel says his company was happy to help with equipment and skills.
He is also keen to work with Ngati Wai on staffing the lodge, once it is completed.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
