- Hon Tama Potaka
- Hon Shane Jones
A new marae in central New Plymouth will put culture, resilience and community at the heart of the city, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say.
The Government is investing up to $8.6 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) for Ngati Te Whiti to establish Ngāmotu Marae in Moturoa near the waterfront and public coastal walkway.
“The development will give Ngāti Te Whiti a long overdue home in their own rohe, while opening the doors to the wider community for hui, events, education and support during emergencies,” Mr Jones says.
“For more than 150 years, Ngāti Te Whiti, the mana whenua of New Plymouth, have not had a marae in the city. This investment restores a critical anchor that is accessible and firmly part of the city’s future,” Mr Jones says.
“A visible and active marae in the city next to the popular waterfront walkway will create cultural, social and economic energy that ripples through the community,” Mr Potaka says.
“This is not just for Ngāti Te Whiti, it is for New Plymouth. Marae are where people gather, decisions are made, and culture and community life are lived every day.”
The marae will double as a lifeline during emergencies, with a wharekai able to provide food, shelter and essential services.
“In an emergency, marae provide practical support to their communities. This facility will be ready to provide shelter, support and stability when New Plymouth needs it most,” Mr Potaka says.
This project includes building a wharenui and wharekai, along with community, meeting and administration spaces, civil works such as power, water, access and earthworks, and full site development including landscaping and parking.
The project is being delivered by Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Tōpu Trust. The total cost is $17.8 million, with co-funding from Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, local government, the Toi Foundation, and the community. It will support around 46 jobs during construction.
Long term, the marae is expected to support cultural tourism, local enterprise and community-led development.
