A fundraising gala for Kaiwhaiki Marae has netted the marae committee more than $5000.
The community gala was held on Saturday and included a white elephant stall, cakes and other food stalls, raffles, massage, jewellery, clothing, and even ta moko (tattooing).
Chairman of the marae committee, Peter McKay, said thegala raised around $5500. Money which will be put to good use.
"We're going to use it for maintenance of our whare puni [meeting house], Te Kiritahi, which will be turning 100 years old soon. We'd like to do up our dining hall and ablutions block as well," he said.
In 2008, Kaiwhaiki Marae appeared on Maori TV's Marae DIY, a programme which helps give struggling marae a spruce-up. Mr McKay said there was a desire in the community to continue the good work done during Marae DIY. He said was delighted by the fundraising effort. The Kaiwhaiki marae committee would like to thank the following for their sponsorship: the Maori Wardens, Carters, Eides Sports, Sportsedge, Rebel Sport, The $2 Shop, Hoskin Transport, Liquorland, Hiremaster, Goodyear Tyres, Mainstreet Wanganui, Central Pharmacy, Marc Wymer, Malcolm's Machinery, UCOL Whanganui, Hook Line and Sinker Fish Shop, and all the whanau who contributed.
