Major roofing project at Marae

By Frank Neill

A major project to reroof the Whare Kai at Wainuiomata Marae is currently under way.

Good progress is being made on the project, which is costing just over $300,000.

Wainuiomata Marae was fortunate to be granted funding for the project from applications it had put in, the Wainuiomata Marae Chairman Star Olsen told the “Wainuiomata News”.

That was fortunate, because “funding to keep this place going is an issue.

“So far we have been fortunate to get the grants through to keep us going.”

The project began on 23 February, Mr Olsen said, and is due to be finished by the end of March. hire

The reroofing project has meant that some of the Marae activities are currently closed while the work is in progress.

A number of the Marae activities were still happening however.

These included the Kohanga Reo, the Te Rito Youth Training Programme, the health and social services that run from both the Wainuiomata Marae and the K kiri Marae hub in Queen Street, and the Mirimiri Rongoa programme.

The reroofing project is one of a number of projects that need to happen at the Marae.

The kitchen floor needs an upgrade urgently, Mr Olsen said. So, also, does the heating and air conditioning and also the windows of the Whare Kai are in need of attention.