The Bay of Plenty is to get upgrades at 77 marae totalling $29,614,993 which was expected to create 648 jobs.
The funding is in addition to $12.4 million announced last month for upgrades of town halls, war memorials and other community facilities around the country and close to $10 million for upgrades and renovations on Pasifika churches.
Jones said the investment recognised the role of marae which were often the heart of their communities.
"Marae are the centre of faith, sport, and family and community gatherings. They often do double service as accommodation, conference centres, health and welfare hubs and host some of our country's most important events."
He said it would help bring people back into work in the regions and at the same time upgrade this critical infrastructure.
Mahuta said marae are the focal point for Māori – for whānau, hapū and iwi.
"Marae reflect and represent Māori identity, language, mātauranga and whānau wellbeing.
"These initiatives will strengthen whānau and communities, not only by investing in the physical restoration and revitalisation of marae buildings, but also through the protection and preservation of the culture and heritage of marae.
"New Zealanders who have spent time at a marae will know the special places they are, will have enjoyed the hospitality offered by their hosts and appreciate the role they play in our shared identity," Mahuta said.
"Many marae are in desperate need of repairs and maintenance work, like other community facilities, and this funding is realistically the only financial investment some of them will ever receive. In these uncertain times caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, now is the time to provide this vital funding," she said.
The types of upgrades that will be funded include plumbing, carpentry, electrical, painting and landscaping. In practical terms this includes work on covered walkways and shelters, resealed carparks, installation of ramps and safety rails, the repair of water boilers, guttering and spouting, installation of fire sprinklers and the completion of carvings.
The Provincial Development Unit and Te Puni Kōkiri have got the marae projects identified, quoted, assessed and set up to be contracted.
Jones said applicants were working closely with the Ministry of Social Development to identify workers who needed redeployment due to the economic effects of Covid-19.
Region Funding No. of Marae Jobs
Bay of Plenty $29,614,993 77 648
Canterbury $160,440 2 30
Chatham Islands $198,318 1 6
Hawke's Bay $9,623,529 51 262.5
Manawatū-Whanganui/Horowhenua $7,139,349 33 560.5
Southland $718,576 2 25
Tai Tokerau/Northland $9,287,603 34 388
Tairāwhiti/East Coast $14,267,895 59 393.6
Taranaki $7,407,008 23 305.5
Te Tau Ihu/Top of the South $761,861 4 38
Waikato $13,896,659 53 363
Wairarapa / Kapiti $3,191,284 10 88.8
West Coast $248,376 2 20
Grand Total $96,515,895 351 3128.9
