New wharekai proves a big hit with locals

Dale van Engelen says the marae's new wharekai has been buzzing with people. Photo / John Stone

Whakapara Marae's new wharekai is only four months old but already has become a hive of activity.

Its chairwoman, Dale van Engelen, said it had been a long and at times stressful journey to complete the wharekai, named Te Tawaka, but since the doors opened in May there has been a flood of people using it.

"It's been exhausting but really positive."

Since the opening a school holiday programme had been among the events.

"We have had weaving wananga, tikanga wananga, it's been really great. The first tikanga class we did we had 60 people who came along just to have a look. We teach marae protocol and the different roles on the marae, we had people come back from Auckland just to learn. It's really positive."

The new wharekai became even more needed after the old wharekai was destroyed in an electrical fire in March.

She said the size of the new wharekai meant the marae was able to take on more events and activities.

"The capacity means we can host birthdays, wedding parties, school events. There's enough space so that at one end you can seat people for kai and, at the other end, activities can be held."

But the new wharekai is just the beginning of what whanau have planned for the marae.

"We also want to complete the ablution block and move that closer to the wharekai and wharenui. We also plan to turn the bottom block into an arts centre," she said.

"We have a lot of talented artists, carvers and weavers and I think we're looking at inviting them back and see how they can maintain and encourage art."

For more details of events see: www.facebook.com/WhakaparaMarae