(1) A Site for Auckland Marae

Te Ao Hou, May 1957, Page 23

(1) A Site for Auckland Marae Initiative, enterprise, and sheer determination are having their reward for the Maori people in Auckland who are attempting to establish their own marae. For months past they have been facing disappointments, delays, and apparently insurmountable difficulties in bringing the scheme to fruition. Since a group of enthusiasts acquired the use of a piece of land at New Lynn the prospects of laying the foundations of a marae which will satisfy the cultural ideals of the Maori and gain the wholehearted support of the pakeha, seem to be brighter than ever. Credit for the revived activity of the marae committee goes to the chairman of the Waitemata Tribal Executive, Dr Maharaia Winiata, the Dominion President of the Maori Women's Welfare League, Mrs Whina Cooper, and the Director of the Maori Academy of Arts and Crafts, Mr Henare Toka. They sought a way out of the dilemma which faced the committee when consideration of two possible sites—at Orakei and next to the Community Centre in Freeman's Bay—suddenly had to be abandoned. They searched for and found a section at New Lynn. This area of 4 ½ acres in Golf Road is owned by a pakeha. As it was overgrown with weeds he was only too willing to let the Maori people use the ground for cropping while the committee negotiated with him to purchase it. A start was made in December with planting the land and already the occupiers have produce for sale to augment the marae funds. The kumeras grown here are competently judged to be among the best produced in the district. Mrs Cooper and Mr Toka have since approached the Mayor of New Lynn, Mr Hugh Brown, with a view to obtaining the approval of the council of a marae on the site. An inspection by the Mayor with Dr M. Winiata and Mr T. P. Paikea. M.P., has led to the council sanctioning the scheme. It will tell members of the original deputation that it “welcomes them to the district and appreciates the good work they are doing to preserve the best in Maori culture.” “It will be an investment by the committee”, said Dr Winiata, when announcing the appointment of a sub-committee to negotiate the purchase of the land. Consideration of it as the location of the future marae would come later. Dr Winiata explained that the land on Orakei heights given to the Ngati Whatua by the Government in compensation for the loss of the old Orakei village site, was not considered suitable for a marae serving all the Auckland Maoris. It was only natural that parochial interests would intervene there as the Orakei Maoris considered the land to be essentially a replacement of the former traditional settlement and for the loss of which money could not be regarded as adequate compensation. Furthermore, Dr Winiata explained, if the marae were established at Orakei, which the Ngati Whatua regarded as their own, it would be on a scale which would preclude the local inhabitants from performing their traditional obligations as hosts. Members of other tribes would not feel they could go there as freely as they would go to a marae which served in every way the interests of the Auckland Maoris as a whole. However, there was nothing to prevent the Orakei people establishing a smaller centre for their local needs. Dr Winiata also said efforts to obtain the site adjoining the Community Centre had failed. The committee had hoped to secure this from the Government on a long-term lease, but it was informed that the Government and the City Council had other plans for it.

The marae committee will be considering possible plans for the marae and meetinghouse which is expected to show the best aspects of traditional Maori life for the benefit of tourists and other Europeans, as well as serving the needs of the Maori people. A suggestion to develop housing in the vicinity has been made. If this comes about the council wants the owners to feature native trees and shrubs in their gardens. The authorities have gone into the question of roading costs in the event of a subdivision and have obtained a satisfactory offer on this point.