Almost 60 years ago, members of Omaio Marae dragged an enormous native log out of the Motu River and used the timber to build a new wharekai overlooking the Eastern Bay of Plenty coastline.

The dining hall and kitchen subsequently hosted countless functions including tangi, weddings and meetings. But eight years ago the decision was made to demolish and rebuild the wharekai to provide a more comfortable and functional venue that could cater for bigger crowds. It’s not uncommon for 1500 people a day to attend a tangi at Omaio Marae, which commands a prime position overlooking the ocean 12km south of Te Kaha.

“When we did a feasibility study and we tried to look at upgrading it… the wood was really good, but it wouldn’t pass today’s building standards,” Project Manager Maxie Kemara explains. “Our kitchen floor was just shingle coated in concrete. It was terrible and crumbly underneath. But the decision to demolish and rebuild was quite a lengthy and emotional process because for a lot of our aunties and uncles, it was their fathers who had built it.”

Fortunately 95% of the materials from the demolished wharekai were able to be recycled and repurposed by hapū members. “People were very happy to take parts of that building home with them and there’s been some amazing things people have done with that recycled wood.”

Funding Support

Omaio Marae’s new wharekai will be twice the size of the original, and after a lengthy process to raise the $5.9m needed, it is due to reopen in late 2024.

“Our marae has been closed for four years now after Covid and the subsequent wharekai demolition. But we’re at the stage now where the family are really excited and keen to get the marae open and going again. Because we all do miss it.”

The bulk of the funds have been secured from Oranga Marae which provides support, advice and investment for marae via Te Puni Kōkiri and the Department of Internal Affairs. Sadly, a lengthy building consent delay and unforeseen soakage problems have led to a steep escalation in costs.

An additional $200,000 has now been provided by BayTrust to help pay for the internal fit-out and ensure the building is finished as Te Whānau a Nuku hapū members have envisioned.

“We are very grateful for this funding. Without BayTrust’s help and support we can’t finish this project. It’s massive for our hapū, our Te Whānau a Apanui iwi and our community.”

Ideal Design

Maxie has overseen the new wharekai build as Project Manager, and says a lot of hours have been spent with hapū members to design a good ‘flow’ for the kitchen.

“The way the kitchen is being set up, it can be managed easily by one or two people or by 20-30 plus people. We’re really trying to make it workable so we can produce food on mass. And we’ll put benches in the middle that will be removable so we can move things around the kitchen to suit whatever we’ve got going on at the time.

“We also had to get ahead of the game with health and safety regulations because marae do cater for a lot of different groups and businesses so we need to have good health and safety standards.”

New tea and coffee making facilities will be located in the dining hall itself, reducing the need to wheel a trolley back and forth from the kitchen, and big stacker doors leading out onto a deck are being installed to help make the most of the stunning sea view.

Popular Spot

Once the new wharekai is officially opened, Maxie says the venue will be in high demand and allow for the continuation of Māori customs, language and practices as well as meeting wider community needs.

 “We will have tangi, weddings, unveilings, birthdays, plus a number of local businesses that will be using our place as a meeting venue like the kiwifruit industry and council.

“It’s going to be huge for us. In our iwi we have 13 marae and our marae is one of the most sought-after because of its location. We’re only 40 mins from Opotiki and you have to turn off SH35 when you come down our private road. We have public toilets and a beach right there. So whatever the function or hui or meeting, everyone’s kids are safe. And our marae is the one our Te Whānau a Apanui kapa haka group use every summer for training so obviously that’s a big deal. We can’t wait to re-open and we’re so appreciative of BayTrust in helping make that happen.”