Efforts renewed for marae in Sydney

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 14

Efforts renewed for marae in Sydney

By

ROBERT LOWE

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney After 15 years of trying without success to establish a marae in Sydney, Maoris in New South Wales hope to be finally on the right road. The recently formed Kiwi Council of New South Wales has been set up especially to build a New Zealand community centre.

The steering committee chairman, Mr Graham Anderson, said he was confident a project could be well on the way by next year — Australia’s bicentenary.

“There is a new wave of enthusiasm,” he said.

“What we need to do now is to develop this enthusiasm further.” Mr Anderson, a marketing executive, said similar projects had been proposed since the early 1970 s without result.

“It is something that has been discussed for the last 15 years, but somewhere along the line it has not jelled,” he said. "A number of attempts were made and committees were formed, but they have fallen by the wayside. “We are trying to get something specific going.”

Mr Anderson said New Zealanders in New South Wales recognised the need for a community centre.

He said the council preferred to use that term in preference to “marae,” as the centre would cater for all New Zealanders — Maoris, pakehas, Pacific Islanders, and anyone who had a connection with the country — and would incorporate a marae.

A preliminary meeting was held at the New Zealand consulate-general last month of about 70 people representing various Maori organisations, groups and clubs.

“We had a good crosssection,” said Mr Anderson. “The main thing to come out of the meeting was- that we must unite. We have various suburban centres here that people can go to, but the situation is fragmented and gives the impression that Maoridom is fragmented. “Once we are united, we can make the right approaches to the right people and the right places.” Mr Anderson said he hoped that the foundation stone could be laid by next year. The meeting last month was told that Maoris in other Australian centres already had similar projects under way. In Melbourne, the Victorian Maori Council had bought 16 acres of land and had a four-year plan to build a community complex. In Brisbane, a centre was established three years ago, using an old church as a marae. Maoris in Brisbane had received a pledge that five acres of land with two buildings would be made available to them after the 1988 Expo.