14 | Ngāti Rēhia & Scope: Procraft Construction � Kim Newth Long-awaited marae gets underway The project is poised to transform the marae, giving Takou whānau their own wharehui, wharekai, wharehoroi and wharepaku for events. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A very special project is under construction at Mataatua Ki Takou at Te Ra Road, Takou Bay in Taitokerau, fulfilling Ngāti Rēhia’s long-held dream for Takou whānau to have their own turangawaewae marae. Mataatua Ki Takou has an existing Whare Awhina (community centre), built in 2012, which gets a lot of use, but it falls well short of being a fully developed gathering place for whānau, hapu and iwi. Years of fundraising, led by the Takou marae committee, are now coming to fruition, with marae development works in full swing. The project is poised to transform the marae, giving Takou whānau their own wharehui, wharekai, wharehoroi and wharepaku for events like birthdays, weddings, funerals, fundraising events, wānanga, whānau and hapu gatherings. The final work is due to be completed in 2026. “It is exciting for whānau to see the progress,” says Nora Tawhi Rameka (Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Kaitangata), who has worked tirelessly to help bring the vision to reality. She is a founding matriarch of the Ngāti Rēhia rūnanga, and in 2015 was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her devotion to others. “More whānau are coming home to build and live – at last, they can be part of their own growth as we build the new marae. It is the korero of NgātiRēhia/Ngāpuhi hapu/whānau at hui.” She notes that an advantage of the site is that there is easy access by road, which will work well for whānau and members of the community building around the Mataatua Ki Takou marae. Ngāti Rēhia and Takou whānau are the kaitiaki of the great voyaging waka, Mataatua, which was captained by the chief Toroa, accompanied by his younger brother Puhi, his sister Muriwai, and his daughter Wairaka. Takou River is a significant place for the descendants of Mataatua, as it is considered to be the final resting place of the waka. The new marae honours that whakapapa. With the project having been a long time in the making, the design of the new marae buildings has been arrived at through an evolving process. “Many architects were asked to design the Takou marae – Mike Barnes and Te Rau Hoskings. This marae design was completed by Arcline in Kaitaia after holding hui with the Takou marae committee and the beneficiaries before we agreed to the design,” explains Nora. A blessing and karakia ceremony last September was an empowering moment for the Takou Bay community. The foundation for the first stage of the marae – the wharekai and wharepaku – was poured last October. Procraft Construction has been busy on site completing the first-stage works, and expects to commence construction of the wharehui in May. Nora says the Takou marae committee has arranged to meet with the iwi of Mataatua to discuss the poupou and carvings in 2025, which is another key part of this development. “We would like to visit the hapu/iwi of Mataatua and invite them to tell their stories in their poupou, carvings and tukutuku. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia has initiated a carving school for the rangatahi on the NorthTec campus in Kerikeri, and they will be part of the Mataatua marae project – this will also extend their knowledge of the Mataatua waka.” Nora has seen a lot of change for the better in Takou over the years. When she first went back there in 1975, she says no-one was living there. “It was full of gorse with no roads and no houses.” For many years, when she and her husband were working full-time, they used to take their children to Takou for holidays. “I spent a lot of time coming back to Takou and to help my whānau of Ngāti Rēhia and Te Tii and surrounding villages to see if we could work with whānau to make a difference for housing and education. Takou is the most beautiful place in the world and we are now seeing whānau growing and participating with their community.” Across the river is another important marae – Te Whetu Marama Ki Te Ao Hou – that was reopened in November 1993 by NgātiRēhia kaumatua and kuia after being restored. It supports the Takou Kauri Sanctuary and Ngāti Rēhia’s important environmental work there, with plans underway for it to become known as an environmental education hub. “More whānau are coming home to build and live – at last, they can be part of their own growth as we build the new marae.” call 09 4077156 For ideas and advice about our windows and doors talk to us. Fairview Window Creations or stop by 1 Norfolk Place, Kerikeri. 0800 386 6784 | www.fairviewcreations.co.nz info@haighworkman.co.nz 0800 424 447 www.haighworkman.co.nz Proud to have provided Civil, Geotechnical, Structural and Traffic Engineering expertise to the Mataatua Ki Takou Marae Development.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=