Life may yet resume at an exhibition marae in Masterton following a call for the absentee owner to hand over the beleaguered project to Wairarapa Maori.
Mihi Namana, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa spokeswoman, said yesterday that should owner and master carver Clarence Smith decide not to further develop the Pa Whakairo
site at the southern entrance to the town "he could always sell the land " to Wairarapa iwi.
"Ownership would need to be combined so that the site becomes something in which we all have an interest."
Since opening on a frosty June morning 14 years ago the Pa Whakairo project has suffered a tortuous history of building consent wrangles, Waitangi tribunal claims, Environment and Maori Land court hearings, and arson.
Mr Smith had originally planned to build a visitor and education centre for Maori culture and technology and a display centre for Maori art.
The site, on the corner of State Highway 2 and Ngaumutawa Road, includes a service building with a carved entrance and a kitchen and dining area suitable for up to 30 people. There is also a sealed accessway to the site and car parking for up to 16 vehicles.
The major feature of the 2.3ha site is a recreated Maori palisade of wood and brush featuring substantial totem carvings and painted huts.
There are also some areas of trimmed grass that look more in need of a cut than freshly mown, and the site now seems deserted and forlorn.
"Mr Smith's mistake perhaps was that he didn't invite the community to be share in the work. It's still not too late for this to change, " Mrs Namana said.
Edwin Perry, former MP for Wairarapa, described the site as an eyesore and insult.
"It's an indictment on the Wairarapa Maori community, when we've had no real part to play at all. It looks disgusting and it's running to ruin. The sooner someone picks up the ball, the better."
Mr Smith, now working as a carving tutor at Whitireia Polytechnic, did not return several calls requesting comment.
