The Ōamaru marae, which many may not even know exists, is undergoing a “cultural community revival”.

Te Whare Koa, on France St, is a marae ngā hau e whā – a marae for people of the four winds. 

It opened in 1981, and marae of this type were traditionally established during waves of Māori urban migration, for those who had relocated to other parts of Aotearoa for work. 

Te Whare chairperson Rihi Salter said the marae was a special place for people from all iwi or tribes to come together, learn and experience Te Ao Māori (the Māori world).

“Ever since my mum and sisters were involved in the establishment of a kōhanga reo at Te Whare Koa in the 1980s, Te Whare Koa has always been a special place for our whānau,” she said.

The marae had been under-utilised over the decades, but in the last two years, it had been established as a charitable trust. Trustees had been hard at work restoring and improving the weatherboard building, which was now fully insulated and had two new heat pumps.

Maria Romiti and Laura Cherif at work last week replacing rotten weatherboards, and scraping and sealing paint. PHOTO: Sophia Leon de la Barra

Weekly kapa haka sessions had begun, as well as a rōpū tautoko (support group) for Māori language learners, group facilitator and marae secretary Sophia Leon de la Barra said.

“Everyone who comes enjoys a good laugh while we learn and practise our reo."

The Ōamaru Language School would host a hui at the marae at 4pm on Saturday, January 7, to find out what kind of classes and support community members were seeking, to learn Te Reo Māori, Sophia said. 

“As an immigrant to Aotearoa, it is such a beautiful taonga to be part of a marae ngā hau e whā.”

Te Whare Koa Marae holds its AGM at 2pm on Saturday (December 3), and all interested parties are welcome to attend. The trust is seeking more community members as trustees, beneficiaries, volunteers, as well as workshop facilitators and participants.

Four community weekend working bees to paint the exterior of the marae are on 10am to 4pm, every Saturday and Sunday, from January 7 to 29.

Community members who want to become beneficiaries, and participate in marae events and workshops can enroll on the Te Whare Koa Facebook page or use the link https://forms.gle/DoGzkCYYMEqY6o3H7