The Kaiwaka Marae

The offer of Kaiwaka still stands from the Kaiwaka kinsfolk of Pine Taiapa, from me and Rev. Api Mahuika of Massey University. I am the intermedian of the local people. Conditions of use have yet to be fully discussed, but the title to the land should remain Maori and some Ringatu rules should be maintained, e.g. no smoking and shoes in the meeting house.

Kaiwaka Marae is a Ringatu Church Marae which is in the heart of the Ngati Porou territory, an area rich in things Maori. After 10 generations of use the Marae is very rarely used now, and its people in the district are very few in number. The Marae is two miles from Tikitiki township, which is 100 miles north of Gisborne, about eight to 10 hours motoring from Wellington.

The effective ground area is about one acre, and according to Ringatu custom is fenced into three areas namely, the burial ground and sacred storehouse in one corner, the meeting house with its open ground, the dining hall and kitchen with ample lawn space. Both the meeting house and dining room which were renovated by Pine Taiapa within the last five years are reticulated with electricity. The dining room should seat about 60 to 100 people on trestled tables, and the kitchen has ample cupboard space, a sink bench and a large, open fireplace.

Work on improving facilities has started and a works programme and costing is required now but while money is urgently needed from any source, I am convinced that much of the gear can be donated.

Proposed costs for Kaiwaka Marae are as follows:

Painting of dining room and meeting house to be completed (est.) $600. Transporting of three stoves to Tikitiki (est.) $15. Water supply for kitchen and ablution block; ablution block of brick blocks, 10 handbasins and 10 toilets; 400 gallon galvanised water tank; — total cost estimated (considerably less if labour is free) $6000. Overall cost — $6615.

Also needed are gifts or donations of the following: knives, forks, spoons — 100 unbreakable mugs, plates, desert plates - 100 serving dishes. Some pots and pans, serving dishes, small bowls. Washing machine and refrigerator. Sixty mattresses (preferably double) and pillows, runner carpets, vacuum cleaner.

I quote from Pine Taiapa's letter to the Vice Chancellor, Dr Taylor.... 'I gladly offer it (Kaiwaka) to you and the University in spite of its many inconveniences for people using it for a week or two weeks, and I am confident that the students will respond to take pride in having a Marae they can call their own while they are pursuing their studies. We will have teething obstacles, we will relish and overcome them, for we will be the first in the field of pooling our knowhow, to make our country a happy [unclear: muk-] racial one...'