The Makirikiri Marae was the sixth of seven marae to be visited by the travelling renovation team during the 11th season of AIA Marae DIY this year and Mr Paewai is expecting the show to air on TV3 in September.
"This renovation now makes the marae more marketable and will allow us to generate more income so we can keep up the maintenance," he said.
And with the emphasis on community involvement, the camera crew also captured action at the Wahine/Tane Tri and the Aotea rugby game on Saturday. But it was the support of locals throughout the three days that had been amazing, Mr Paewai said.
"Even the catering for morning and afternoon tea, lunch and dinner saw everyone from the community contribute, not just Maori," he said.
On Saturday Aroha Peakman-Walker spent all day working in the kitchen.
"It's been awesome to see everyone working together," she said.
Mr Paewai said the energy of those involved was inspiring.
"This has been labour-intensive work and I didn't know anything about building before the programme, but I've learned very quickly," he said.
Mr Paewai was notified just seven weeks ago that the producers were looking at Makirikiri Marae to be included in the programme.
"Earlier generations connected with our marae have returned to help and it's not just my cousins, but so many others," he said.
"Two sisters from Hamilton and 10 other members of their family, part of the Nikora family, arrived and reconnected, so this has also been a chance for families to get together."
Mr Paewai said one of his hopes now was that others would take more interest in the marae and maybe step up on to the committee.
"It's been a very beneficial project, meeting each other and making connections," he said. "I've been very impressed with how people got stuck in. It's been a great experience."
Anne Greatbatch's connection with the marae goes back to 1967, when it opened. Her great uncle, Father James Durning (Hemi), was one of the four Catholic priests involved with the ceremony and on Saturday her son Hamish was working on the makeover as part of the Mitchell and Greatbatch team.
"Hemi came out from Scotland, but was fluent in TeReo and it's a connection to be proud of," she said.
Although the Dannevirke News is unable to reveal the makeover and visitors to the marae have also been asked to keep the secret, the crew of volunteers tackled major landscaping changes, the repurposing of the old wharepaku, and a massive paint job with local painter Raymond Beveridge.
One volunteer, Nathan Davis, the senior sergeant of the Tararua Police, said it was wonderful to be part of the makeover at the marae where he'd had his powhiri when he came to Dannevirke.
"It's about being part of the community," he said.
-In Saturday's Dannevirke News: The volunteers who made the project possible.
