November 06, 2018
Papakainga helping marae revival
A new papakainga has opened just east of Carterton for descendants of Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae.
The six homes were built with help from Te Puni Kōkiri‘s Māori Housing Network and a Kainga Whenua loan from Kiwibank to Hurunui-o-Rangi Māori Reservation Trust.
Project manager Henare Manaena says the trust is also rebuilding the marae.
The inspiration came from a visit to a Hawkes Bay papakainga in 2015.
"So we took our key decision makers, which happened to be all our kuia, they are the biggest voices on our marae. They fell in love with what was up in Hawkes Bay at Awarangi Trust and on our way they made the decision, that is exactly what we want, we want warm, healthy, comfortable homes for our whānau to live in," Mr Manaena says.
Wairarapa community housing provider Trust House will manage the papakainga, letting the houses to eligible whānau for below market rents.
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