Murihiku Marae to get $9 million funding boost for upgrade

Monday, 25 January 2021

The Murihiku Marae in Invercargill will get an upgrade, thanks to a $9 million boost from the Government.

The funding will come out of the $3 billion set aside in the Government’s Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund, Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene announced on Tuesday.

The $9m will be used to complete a new wharekai (dining hall), associated infrastructure, replace the administration and services hub, and phased completion of the papakainga housing for kaumatua.

The total project cost is approximately $12.5 million with the Government funding making up the majority and a further $2.5 million from the Rūnaka and from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu funding. A final $1 million is required, which will be sourced through other funding.

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The project would create 33 jobs during the construction phase, and eight new permanent jobs when the project was completed, Robertson said.

“Marae are important centres for Māori. They are the culture and are focal point for people to meet, discuss and provide visible leadership for their community.

“Much-needed renovation of marae around the country creates vital work opportunities for local tradespeople and contractors displaced by the economic impact of Covid-19.”

Waihōpai Rūnaka chairman Cyril Gilroy said the project would ensure that Murihiku marae is fit for purpose and carry the rūnaka into the future.

“This will be all the things a pā was, but in a modern context, fluid and adaptive to meet the needs of our community in this post-covid-19 world.”

The Rūnaka has brought in specialist marae architects BOON to design the state-of-the-art facility.

The Wharenui Te Raitauneke would remain but nearly all other buildings will be replaced by purpose-built, future-proofed, and environmentally sustainable structures in a unique design that reflected the history of Waihōpai, Gilroy said.

“This is for our mokopuna and their mokopuna. It is about incorporating the past while our sights are set on the future, and we are realising our aspirations in the present.”

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has supported the project with funding from its Ngāi Tahu Marae Development Fund.

The Rūnaka aims to let the main construction contract in August, and for the new facilities to be open by the end of 2022.

The funding was a huge boost, not just for locals but for the region, Tirikatene said.

“Murihiku Marae is a central hub for this community, providing a huge number of social services and hosting many events. The constriction work will enable the marae to continue to provide its current level of service, and increase its role as a social services provider.”

The Government announced in October the upgrade of more than 350 marae throughout the country with a $95.6 million investment as part of its plan to stimulate regional economies and create jobs in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.