All covered under the same roof

Tu Tangata, Issue 21, 1 December 1984, Page 56

All covered under the same roof

Marae insurance of a different kind is now being offered by a Wanganuibased firm, Maurice Takarangi and Associates. What makes the insurance different, says Maurice Takarangi is that it is especially suited to Maori needs. For example he points out most marae buildings, like the wharenui and wharekai, previously were under-in-sured because of lack of expert advice on replacement cost. He says most insurance companies didn’t fully realise the time, love and labour put into a carved house complete with kowhaiwhai and tukutuku. And he says coupled with this were the risk features of rural marae being some distance from fire-stations in the event of a fire, and that the structures were made of inflammable materials. All this added up to hefty insurance premiums and low cover. Maurice says his work as a general broker prepared him to research the special needs of Maori people regarding their marae, and then go looking for the appropriate policy amongst insurance companies. He says from this basis, Nga Marae Insurance Scheme was born. Features include full replacement cost based on materials and expenses of craftspeople for carvings, kowhaiwhai and tukutuku. A floating cover of contents of the marae also means accidental physical

loss or damage by any physical means is looked after. This extends for example to the tools used in a kokiri centre. While Maurice is not claiming to be first with the idea of comprehensive marae insurance, he does say the insurance cover offered is unique. While not wishing to disclose clients who’ve taken up the offer for reasons of confidentiality, Maurice says marae from Dargaville to the South Island are in the scheme. He says the other feature Nga Marae offers is the advantage of a group scheme where his brokerage firm is able to shop around for the best cover. From his research, Maurice Takarangi says he’s also seen the need for some form of insurance cover for the cost of holding tangi.... Full tangi expenses are met, he says, unlike some existing policies, with cover not being depleted by a series of aitua. “Using this tangi fund, the financial strain sometimes placed on our people is considerably lessened.” It’s specialist development like this that will continue to be offered says Maurice, who’s assisted by Rod Watt of Palmerston North, the joint development consultant in the partnership and newcomer, Hoani Hipango who handles administrative consultancy and public relations.