A $150,000 Auckland Council grant has moved Papakura Marae’s kaumātua housing plans a step closer to completion.
Manurewa-Papakura Councillor Daniel Newman says the Community Development and Safety Committee’s Cultural Initiatives Fund grant continues the marae’s excellent work.
"Papakura Marae is a bastion of our community. Kaumātua and kuia are integral to it because they hold the matauranga and tikanga that underpins Māori identity."
Papakura Local Board has approved six units at the marae, and last year the Government pledged $1 million to the project.
The fund supports marae and Māori housing across the city, with nine applications worth $1.2m funded for planning, regulatory and development costs.
Papakura will use its funding for design work, project management and consenting. Its proposed units are disabled and tamariki-friendly, because mokopuna are often cared for.
The marae is renowned for supporting Papakura regardless of people’s ethnicity, its weekly community dinner, the Whaitiaki Christmas Day celebration and primary health care and social services illustrating its role.
Chief executive Tony Kake says the grant is a boost to the efforts to raise the funds needed for the development.
"It’s humbling to be supported on this journey. We are grateful for all the support we get, both financial and in terms of expertise."
Two other marae in the area won grants, with Waiuku’s Te Ara Rangatu o te Iwi Ngaati te Ata receiving $150,000, and Karaka’s Whaataapaka Marae $110,000.
Te Ara Rangatu o te Iwi o Ngati te Ata will fund concept, work programme and feasibility studies around its Tahuna Papakāinga Precinct Programme.
Whaataapaka Marae will fund costs associated with upgrading its grey water system to accommodate a kitchen and new toilet blocks, and an eight-unit papakāinga.
