A whārekai on a Taranaki marae that has provided nourishment to prime ministers and the Kīngitanga alike over the past 100 years is to get a $4 million makeover.
The kitchen and dining room at Owae Marae was built in 1881 and has catered to prime ministers and the Maori King. Photo: Robin Martin
Ko Tamawāhine, the kitchen/dining room at Ōwae Marae in Waitara, will be demolished in February to make way for a state-of-the-art replacement.
Manukorihi Pa trustee Ānaru White said Ko Tamawāhine had served its people well.
"Oh where do you start there's been so many dignitaries come in. Obviously we've hosted the Kīngitanga so the Māori King and Queen, whānau, celebrities. We always, for example, host WOMAD artists and prime ministers have always come.
"So whenever a larger or important kaupapa is held within Taranaki and more particularly for Te Ati Awa, Ōwae has always been the place that they come."
But White said it was now time to plan for the next 100 years.
"Over recent years, its condition has slowly declined and it does not meet today's building code and is no longer fit-for-purpose.
"So, we're going to demolish the current whārekai and from there pretty much on the same site we're going to build a brand new whārekai, which will obviously have a dining hall and a state of the art kitchen, so we can continue to manaaki our manuhiri but also take care of our ringawera, the cooks, the kaimahi outback who do all the work, just to make sure they're in safe and comfortable conditions."
Built in 1881, Ko Tamawāhine's name refers to the pāhua or sacking of the pacifist settlement Parihaka in coastal Taranaki, and the instruction given by the prophet Te Whiti o Rongomai to the woman who remained there - "E tū tama wahine i te wā o te kore".
An artist's impressions of new wharekai at Owae Marae. Photo: Supplied
They were instructed to continue with the work of their tūpuna and take on the roles and responsibilities of upholding tikanga Māori, and manaakitanga of whānau when militia and government forces hauled Parihaka's men away.
Oranga Marae, Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa, and Toi Foundation were providing $2.5m to get the project started with the outstanding money to be raised during construction.
White said the decision had been made to get started now to beat accelerating building costs.
"Due to all the Covid restrictions and other constraints in the construction sector, if we were to hold off any longer that $4 million bill would continue to rise rapidly," he said.
Manukorihi Pa Trust chair Rawiri Doorbar said he was grateful the funders understood the benefits the rebuild would bring.
"This rebuild will provide manaakitanga to the level that reflects the significance of Ōwae Marae and the events and guests who are attending," he said, "and it will be a built for purpose whārekai to manaaki our manuhiri, whānau and of course our kaimahi."
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa chair Liana Poutu said the iwi organisation was thrilled to support the new build.
"Ōwae Marae has a significant role within our Te Atiawa tribal landscape and the broader Waitara and North Taranaki community, and Te Kotahitanga are committed to supporting the development."
The Ko Tamawāhine rebuild is Phase Two of the broader Ōwae Marae redevelopment programme.
Phase One included the restoration of two whare earlier this year - Tama Tāne and Te Whai-tara-nui-a-Ngārue which received funding of $400,000 from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) Provincial Growth Fund.
Phase Three of the redevelopment will include a new roof of the carved meeting house Te Ikaroa-a-Māui and the refurbishment of the whakairo and carvings.
Ko Tamawāhine rebuild funding:
- $1 million from Oranga Marae
- $1 million from Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa
- $500,000 from Toi Foundation
