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April 06, 2022
Papakainga first step for marae revitalisaiton
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On April 6, 2022
Download AudioThe head of the team redeveloping Motueka’s Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka says a papakainga is critical not just for the cultural life of the marae but for the economic health of the community.
Work started this week on the 20-dwelling papakainga, which is the largest to be funded so far by Te Puni Kōkiri.
Paul Morgan says the government subsidy means the homes can be let at an affordable rent, encouraging a mix of kaumatua and whānau who can support activities on the marae.
“We have some aspirations for further education development on the marae site – that will happen in time – but we want people close to their marae, living there, supporting the marae and their own whānau development,” he says.
Mr Morgan says with Māori homeownership rates now down around 30 per cent some kind of government intervention is critical, and papakainga can help address wider social issues of displacement faced by Māori.
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