Wellington’s Tapu Te Ranga Marae is appealing for at least $500,000 to bring the 40-year structure up to modern building code standards.
Bruce Stewart built the marae out of recycled materials with the help of gang members and homeless youth with a vision of providing a place of refuge.
His daughter Pare Sanyassi, says over the past couple of years council inspectors have closed off parts of the 11-level structure, including two of the larger whare.
She says that has cut down the number of people it can help.
"With all the whare we still have open we do what we normally do. We take in ope, still provide emergency housing for those who needed it because it's not somehting Wellington supplies, so I definitely think we have the potential," Ms Sanyassi says.
There is a Givealittle page for Tapu Te Ranga, and the marae is also organising a fundraising dinner and concert in December.
