Marae could play safety role
Marae are cultural lifelines for Ma¯ori but the value of the special sites, especially in times of need, should not be lost on the wider community. Deena Coster reports.
For centuries, marae have been the cornerstone of Ma¯ ori life – a place to stay connected to culture and tradition. Hundreds of the structures, often similar in exterior design and with an accompanying red and cream colour scheme, are dotted around Aotearoa.
As holders of ma¯ tauranga (knowledge), marae also house taonga and provide ways for wha¯ nau to reconnect through whakapapa and a shared history.
In the future, the cultural hubs could also play a key role in the community response to natural disasters and civil defence emergencies.
The Government’s recent response to a series of recommendations onhow reactions to natural disasters and other emergencies could be improved-flagged the role iwi and hapu¯ could play.
The report says greater recognition of the capabilities iwi had in terms of emergency management is required, along with a better understanding and integration of the Ma¯ ori perspective.
Included in this was how best to support marae to be able to look after people during times of disaster.
Craig Campbell-Smart, Taranaki Civil Defence group manager, says this aspect was definitely on his work radar in the coming year.
‘‘We don’t have a clear view of this yet and this will be something we intend to discuss with iwi, hapu¯ and marae.’’
He says the government’s report only bolstered the possibilities which already exist.
‘‘It really confirms there is strong capability in the marae and what iwi and hapu¯ can provide in terms of wraparound support,’’ Campbell-Smart says.
It’s a space Owae Marae in north Taranaki has already stepped into.
Dave Rogers, chairman of the Manukorihi Pa¯ Reserve Trust, which oversees marae operations, says the site is registered with Taranaki Civil Defence to help out in times of public emergency. ‘‘We are part of that network.’’ This responsibility is in the back of the minds of marae trustees as they work towards plans for a multi-million dollar upgrade of its facilities.
Rogers says it is important for the marae and its surrounds to be able to meet the welfare needs of people, including a possible need to house animals if required.
But the immediate focus is on upgrading the facilities for day-to-day use.
Rogers says the biggest cost to the trust’s coffers in recent years has been shelling out for ongoing maintenance of its ailing buildings.
He says the trust spends a lot of time applying for funding grants just to attempt to keep pace with the property’s needs.
‘‘Long term, that’s not sustainable,’’ he says.
The challenges Owae Marae faces – dealing with ageing facilities, a volunteer dependent management team and a lack of pu¯ tea (funds) to do anything but basic maintenance – is a familiar story for hundreds of marae across Aotearoa.
In a 2009 report on the status of marae, the Ministry of Ma¯ ori Development/Te Puni Ko¯ kiri highlighted that of the 544 marae it surveyed, 35 per cent reported their oldest structure dated back 100 years.
Three quarters of respondents also reported they had at least one building that was in need of a major renovation.
‘‘In particular, the shower and toilet facilities, and the wharekai (dining room) needed attention for around four out of 10 marae,’’ the report says.
Another issue was that about 50 per cent of marae could seat about 200 people in their wharekai but only 15 per cent had the capacity for the same number of people to sleep there. But despite the limitations, marae are used every day around the country.
They welcome school groups, host weekend wa¯ nanga for te reo learners or offer a place for mourners to gather for tangihanga.
The contemporary role of marae also entered the national consciousness in 2016 when Te Puea Memorial Marae in Ma¯ ngere, Auckland, opened its doors in response to the city’s homelessness crisis. It has since turned into a social service in its own right.
Its Facebook page says in the past two years, it has helped house 267 wha¯ nau and get at least 10 people into employment.
People who would otherwise have nowhere else to go stayed at the marae for about five weeks, on average.
At Owae Marae, Rogers says the redevelopment plans were rooted in a desire to secure its future and create an income stream which will enable it to sustain itself financially.
As such, concept plans for renovations include buildings on the reserve land which could be used as commercial office space, conference facilities or motel units.
While this phase could be 10-15 years away from fruition, the priority is to replace the dining room facilities.
All going to plan, work could begin within the next 12 months.
Revitalising the pa¯ has been given the thumbs up from landowners and Te A¯ tiawa uri (descendants), Rogers says.
‘‘One of the things that really came out of the feedback is the excitement.’’
What needs to follow the anticipatory buzz though is the bucks to make it happen.
While the entire project carries a current price tag of $5 million, he is confident there was enough support to make it happen.
A major player will likely be Te Kotahitanga o Te A¯ tiawa, the iwi post treaty settlement organisation.
With its commercial arm responsible for managing a portfolio worth $102 million, the organisation’s financial ability to help transform its main marae is more than apparent.
‘‘They know they have an obligation to help some how,’’ Rogers says.