April 08, 2024
Tuhoe marae in Te Arawa overhauled
Mātaatua ki Rotorua Marae has been reopened after a major refit.
It’s one of one of 10 marae in the Ruatāhuna cluster associated with Ngāi Tūhoe which received $4.9 million in grant funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for renovations.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, who was at Saturday’s opening which also marked the end of the cluster project, says it provided much-needed jobs and regional economic stimulus
He has the marae, which is on land near the city centre gifted by Ngāti Whakaue of Te Arawa for the descendants of Tūhoe during the early 1900s, has served as a vital gathering place for generations.
In total, 349 marae across the country were renovated through the Marae Renovation Programme, a $96.6m fund allocated from the PGF.
He says it was a critical lifeline for marae and their communities during the economic downturn created by the Covid-19 pandemic, injecting millions into regional economies through wages and spending on building materials and services, and creating a total of 3556 jobs.
“It’s a win-win for preserving our cultural heritage and boosting regional economies,” Mr Jones says.