Dunedin marae going up

A Dunedin marae is rising like a phoenix from the ashes more than five years after the previous building burned to the ground.

Work has begun on the Arai te Uru urban marae in Shetland St. The main frame of the new marae are already completed, including wharenui (meeting house), whare kai (commercial kitchen and dining area) and ablution block.

The $1.4 million project has been several years in the making after strenuous fundraising efforts.

Site foreman Geoff Dee said the project was on schedule for completion in December, with the official opening planned for next Easter.