Life-long struggle fulfilled

Tu Tangata, Issue 16, 1 March 1984, Page 45

Life-long struggle fulfilled

Hiria Rakete

FACES OF ROTORUA

She’s 73 already, but it looks as if no one will stop Mrs Makarita Malcolm completing her dream, to rebuild the family marae.

Ever since she was a young girl, this was her main ambition, and now that she has the support of her family and tribe, nothing is going to stop her from seeing it through. After the Tarawera eruption in 1886, Taraawhai has been without a marae, although there have been attempts to rebuild. Fate, however, has always been

against them, and her son, Joe Malcolm says he is certain that this marae will be a success. There have been many obstacles in their way, but they were things that determination could take care of. And Makarita had plenty of that. Every morning she was out with her slash hook, clearing the scrub from the site. Her family were a great help,

especially since one of her sons was a contractor and had the machines to level the site. With the land clear, construction could start. She bought the bricks with her own money, and left them for her sons to put to use. And there’s no disputing that they have made good use of them.

In two years the dining room, washing facilities, meeting house and a hydroponic green house have been built. So have the paths, gardens and all the interior work for the house and dining room. That includes the kowhaiwhai panels, a mural for the dining room (done by Mr Tutu Te Kaokao), and carvings. Some of the carvings were done by Taraawhai elder, Mr Kaka Niao, in what Joe Malcolm calls “true Taraawhai style”. Now, he has no misgivings about the complex.

“We’ve had no real problems so far, even financially,” says Joe. “We’ve been quite lucky.” “Other people said we couldn’t do it, and wouldn’t help us, physically,” he says. But the people of the small settlement weren’t deterred. Mita Mohi, one of Makarita’s sons-in-law, says he doubts if the buildings would have started without her. “She’s a strong lady, and we’re all very proud of what she’s been doing.” But Joe attributes their success to the family. “It’s a thing called ‘whanau dynamics’”, he explains.

And with the vast amount of work they’ve done, it looks like it’s working. Building the complex has definitely been an experience for Joe and the others involved. “All good memories are in this marae, because we all enjoyed it so much.” “I’m a rich man, not money-wise, but experience-wise and I’m proud of it,” he says. Makarita is also very satisfied with the progress of the marae. “I will die happy now, knowing that the wish of my tupuna has finally come true I’m glad too, knowing that now Taraawhai has its own marae that we can all be proud of.”