A “beautifully restored” marae in the heart of Rotorua has been officially reopened.
Mātaatua ki Rotorua Marae’s reopening on Saturday marked the end of renovations for the Ruatāhuna cluster.
It is one of 10 marae in the cluster associated with Ngāi Tūhoe, which received $4.9 million in grant funding from the provincial growth fund for renovations.
“Mātaatua ki Rotorua Marae has served as a vital gathering place for generations. Now, with a beautifully restored wharenui and essential upgrades, it will continue to nurture Tūhoe’s history and identity for future generations,” said Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, who attended the event.
Mātaatua Marae is situated on land gifted by Ngāti Whakaue during the early 1900s for Tūhoe descendants and holds immense cultural significance for Tūhoe.
In the 1950s, the marae became a central meeting point for members of Tūhoe and Ngāti Whare who moved from their homelands in Te Urewera to take up employment within the burgeoning forestry industry, whose local milling centre was in Rotorua.
In total, 349 marae across the country have been renovated through the $96.6m marae renovation programme under the provincial growth fund.
Jones said the initiative has been a “win-win” for all concerned.
“This investment has been a huge boost for Marae and their communities. Many marae were desperately in need of repairs, and this funding has been a critical lifeline.”
“Not only are our marae being revitalised but the project has injected millions into regional economies through wages and spending on building materials and services, and created a total of 3556 jobs. It’s a win-win for preserving our cultural heritage and boosting regional economies.”
Mātaatua ki Rotorua Marae trustee Kimoro Taiepa said the marae’s reopening was a “prime reaction phase on many fronts”.
“Firstly our connections with mana whenua Ngāti Whakaue and the acknowledgement of a Tūhoe presence in Te Arawa wouldn’t have been possible without the strong genealogical ties that Tūhoe have with Ngāti Whakaue and the consent for Tūhoe to occupy the current whenua where Mataatua stands.
“In honour of this gesture, the three tohunga who carried out the opening ceremonies were of Ngāti Whakaue descent,” he said.
Secondly, Taiepa said the upgrade meant that their tangible taonga had been restored, namely the mahau (porch) of the meeting house as well as the wharekai (dining hall) that would continue to be enjoyed by present and future generations of Tūhoe to manaaki whānau, iwi and the community.
“An immediate priority is reconnecting our uri (descendants) with the marae, to be a part of the revisioning for the marae and actively engage in the regeneration of our reo and tikanga (language and customs) and strengthening our whakapapa links with each other, with Tūhoe and the community.”
Taiepa said the trustees were committed to the ongoing development of the marae complex and facilities now and into the future.
-Additional reporting by Sandra Conchie