Waiohiki marae in Napier is one of 351 marae throughout the country to receive funding for upgrade projects. Photo / Supplied
Waiohiki marae in Napier is one of 351 marae throughout the country to receive funding for upgrade projects. Photo / Supplied
Hawke's Bay will receive $9.6 million to upgrade 51 marae as part of a $96.5 million nationwide Provincial Growth Fund announcement.
Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones made the announcement on Friday in Kaikoke, a town in the Northland electorate Jones is vyingfor in the election.
A total of 351 marae around Aotearoa will receive $96.5 million for upgrades and restoration.
The Government says this will create more than 3000 jobs, including 262 in Hawke's Bay.
But the announcement has caused controversy, with the National Party calling it "outrageous".
National's finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith questioned why the funding was announced 10 days before an election instead of earlier, saying it could be in breach of cabinet convention.
He said it is "one of the biggest spending decisions from the Provincial Growth Fund over the last three years" which was made in Northland: "an electorate NZ First must win to return to Parliament on current polling".
Funded upgrades include plumbing, carpentry, electrical, painting and landscaping, work on covered walkways and shelters, resealed carparks, the installation of ramps and safety rails, water boiler repair, guttering and spouting, the installation of fire sprinklers and the completion of carvings.
One Hawke's Bay marae receiving funding is Waiohiki Marae in Napier which is receiving $375,000.
Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones and Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta made the announcement on Friday. Photo / File
Waiohiki Marae Board of Trustees member Hinewai Ormsby said the board is "thrilled" about the funding which will go towards the completion of the marae wharenui, replacing the building that was burnt down in 2002.
"Not only does the PGF support our local economy with trades work and training programmes, but it also revitalises the cultural and social wellbeing for local Māori, particularly the Ngāti Paarau hapū of Waiohiki."
The board and community have been fundraising for the building for a while so the PGF funding will mainly fund interior work such as carpeting and plumbing.
When complete the building will sleep 80 people, host bigger events, including education hui.
Ormsby said the board has worked with Civil Defence so the building can be used as an emergency hub in times of need.
The funding is in addition to the $12.4m announced last month for upgrades of town halls and community facilities and the close to $10m announced to upgrade and renovate Pasifika churches.
In an August PGF announcement for Wairoa, 19 marae were set to be upgraded with $1.58m, and a spokesperson confirmed they were included in today's announcement.
Jones said marae are "the centre of faith, sport, and family and community gatherings" which often double as accommodation, conference centres, health and welfare hubs and host "some of our country's most important events".
"This once-in-a-lifetime investment will help bring people back into work in the regions and at the same time upgrade this critical wellbeing infrastructure."
Mahuta said the funding is a game-changer for the marae and their communities, many of which are in "desperate" need of repairs and maintenance work.
"This funding is realistically the only financial investment some of them will ever receive."
The 51 marae in Hawke's Bay receiving funding are:
