RIF grants fund completion of marae projects

Grants from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will support two marae to strengthen their ability to serve as community hubs and offer refuge in times of emergency, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. A $4 million grant will go to Mataura Marae in the Southland town of Mataura. A $150,000 grant will also be provided from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to Takitimu Marae in Wairoa. The grant for Mataura Marae will enable the complex to be completed, building on its longstanding service to whānau and the wider community, Mr Patterson says. “Completing the marae will enhance its role as a focal point for strengthening cultural identity and connection for whānau Māori, while serving and supporting the whole community and extending its contribution to the wider eastern Southland area.” The project will involve completion of the wharekai (dining hall) and ablution facilities, along with accessibility improvements, structural strengthening, drainage and parking upgrades. Once completed, it will provide a safe, fit-for-purpose facility that can support and expand its existing role in health services, social programmes,

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