The recently revitalised Te Whare Koa Marae is opening its doors for Waitangi Day.

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

These marae were traditionally established during waves of urban migration for Māori, who had relocated to other parts of Aotearoa for work; they are for people of all iwi or tribes, no matter where they hail from.

The marae was having a pōwhiri and potluck meal, starting at 11am on Monday, February 6, Te Whare chairperson Rihi Salter said.

“It would be great if people who want to get involved with our local marae ngā hau e whā came along,” said Salter.

The day was a wonderful opportunity to meet other local whānau and build relationships (whakawhānaungatanga), Rihi said. 

Te Whare Koa was established in 1981 as a community marae for people to gather, learn, share and experience Te Ao Māori.

While the marae had been under-utilised in the past, in the last two years the trustees had been hard at work. It was now set up as a charitable trust. The building had been repaired and painted, and was fully insulated with two heat pumps.

Weekly activities are also underway, with weekly kapa haka sessions, te reo classes and a Pō Kemu (games night) for Māori language learners. Four harakeke (flax) weaving workshops were being held this month.

This was just the beginning of the community marae revival, Rihi said. 

More community members were being sought to get involved as trustees, beneficiaries and volunteers, as well as workshop facilitators and participants. 

“Te Whare Koa is a special place for people from all iwi to come together and share Te Ao Māori,” Rihi said.

“Te Whare Koa has always been a special place for our whānau living in the district to gather together, learn and share.”

Marae treasurer and Kōrero Club facilitator Sophia Leon de la Barra said Te Whare Koa had been the perfect space for the weekly Kōrero Club and Pō Kemu.

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

The Ōamaru Language School was also running a one-hour beginner Te Reo class on Thursday nights for 10 weeks this term, she said. 

“As an immigrant to Aotearoa, it is such a beautiful taonga to be part of a marae ngā hau e whā – a place to connect with Te Ao Māori, learn and share.”

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