June 06, 2023
Marae gift for next generation
The chair of Waihōpai Runaka says the $15 million rebuild of Murihiku Marae is a gift to future generations.
The whale-shaped complex was blessed on Friday, 40 years after the original marae was opened.
Cyril Gilroy says that has been almost 20 years in development, as the Invercargill Maori community responded to the influx of Maori and Pasifika from the north coming down to work in the freezing works and wanting a place to stand.
The new buildings will enable the Rūnaka to expand its community support services, operate as a civil defence emergency centre and provide a hub for education.”So our young people who come in today can see this place as their home and make it take it on the future for the next 40, 50 years and do what they wish. We’ve had out time. It’s now time for them to do their thing,” Mr Gilroy says.
The next stage of the development will be kaumatua housing and a medical centre.