July 05, 2019
Upgrades needed for marae emergency role
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta says the Oranga Marae initiative will allow marae to assess what they need to become more involved in civil defence and emergency management.
An extra $12 million over four years has gone in to expand the programme, which covers not just upgrades of facilities but also projects that help preserve Māori culture.
Ms Mahuta says the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes, the Edgecumbe flood and this year's Nelson fire shows how marae are increasingly being used for emergency response.
"What we are signaling is our marae are a focal point for community and for all community members and importantly in a natural disaster or a crisis often marae are the first to respond because they have the resources to cater for a large number of people and put them up for the night if necessary," she says.
Oranga Marae is a contestable fund, and marae will also need to raise matching funds for projects.
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