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February 04, 2022
New start for Te Honihoni with Puketawa Marae upgrade
Reuben Epiha
Posted On February 4, 2022
Download AudioA Hokianga marae is set to fly its flag this weekend for the first time in more than 20 years.
Puketawa Marae secretary Katene Ericksen says the main house was built in the 1960s but fell into disuse.
There was only one wharepaku, no showers or hot water, and people used to joke it was warmer outside the whare tūpuna in winter than it was inside.
That’s all been fixed, even to the extent of now having a shower and wharepaku for tangata whai kaha, and the members of Te Honihoni again have a base to learn in their tikanga and culture.
“We want our whānau to be able to korero the reo of our tūpuna, we want our tamariki to know there whakapapa, we want our uri to know the heart of what it is to be Te Honihoni and they can do that on our marae,” she says.
The marae is thankful for the help of the Provincial Growth Fund as well as whānau and friends who gave their time and skills to the rebuild.
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