New wharekai opened

Tu Tangata, Issue 15, 1 December 1983, Page 15

New wharekai opened

Te Puna O Te Ora, the new wharekai for the Wainuiomata Marae was opened recently, with the meeting house adjacent, still to be completed. For the people of Wainuiomata, Wellington, it’s been a project with over twenty years of fundraising. Current marae committee chairman and treasurer, Barney Barclay remembers when the idea for a community marae

was first discussed in the 60’s and the people involved, Mo Baker, Ralph Olsen, Gerry Tauri, Albert Wano and Kara Puketapu. Barney says he took over the chairmanship on the death of Ralph Olsen and owes much to the people who believed in the idea of a marae for all people, not just for a certain tribe. Fundraising for the marae has seen some setbacks, with a Wainuiomata District Community Council project plan having to be shelved. Barney is hopeful some of the ideas like the planned theatre can still be incorporated into the marae when and if funds are avail-

able. He says the council has already contributed substantially to the site preparation with over seventy thousand dollars worth of work as well as guaranteeing the underwriting of a loan. He says the fundraising is continuing and will culminate with the opening of the meeting house. All external carving is expected to be completed by the new year with the maihi and amo already carved. Barney says he’s very pleased that the carver is Rangi Hetet because Rangi has been involved in the area for years. His wife, Elanor Hetet is working on the tukutuku work.