The architectural vision for the proposed community complex at Waiohiki marae is an exciting signpost to the future.
The bold design by Paris Magdalinos Architects was shown to me some months ago by fund-raising committee chairman Denis O'Reilly and I was struck by its future-focused lines growing from a more traditional maraebuilding.
Such a complex at Waiohiki would be a statement by Ngati Parau that they are guiding their community into the future without abandoning their roots.
It's a big project, costed at some $10 million over the next decade, and conceived from the ashes of the marae's dining room, lost in a fire in 2002.
The vision, as reported by Hawke's Bay Today yesterday, is for a true community complex with a traditional meeting house, cultural, educational and tourism features and open for use by all people, in keeping with the philosophy of Tareha Te Moananui.
The facility would, say Ngati Parau, complement other regional cultural facilities, including the Hawke's Bay Opera House and the under-development Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery in Napier.
Waiohiki is an important location to both cities - Ngati Parau like to say they stand in Hastings and they face Napier - so there is a good argument for developing a significant cultural and community facility there. You can imagine a beneficial linkage to the nearby EIT.
Marae trustees have committed $500,000 and they yesterday approached Hastings District Council for a $250,000 grant to kick-start the project.
Half of the $10 million being sought over the next decade would come from the efforts of the hapu and project supporters, they say.
It will be interesting to see where council goes with this request. It's a fair chunk of change but so long as the Waiohiki project looks to be under sound management it should be worth backing. The region lacks a significant complex with Maori cultural connections.
