Tiny community launches appeal to save marae

A little over a month ago the people of Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna Marae, 7km north of Tolaga Bay, were celebrating the re-election to Parliament of one of its favourite sons, Parekura Horomia.

But yesterday that festive spirit was one of sadness as whanau members launched an appeal for funds to help move their ancestral house after flooding last weekend left it buried under a sea of silt.

The Labour Weekend floods, which swamped parts of the East Coast causing millions of dollars of damage to farms, left a destructive trail of silt throughout the marae complex.

The marae, which is next to the Hikuwai River, has been in its present position for 70 years.

It has been battered by bad weather at the same time as some of New Zealand's notable disasters, including flooding during the Tangiwai disaster of 1953, the sinking of the Wahine in 1968, when the marae was flattened, and more flooding during Cyclone Bola in 1988, in which three people were drowned near the marae.

Marae spokesman Pat Ngata said whanau members and ahi kaa (home people) felt the latest incident would be the last of its type.

"It wasn't a case of if we got flooded but a case of when. At the end of the day we had to bite the bullet and make the decision to move."

Dr Ngata said the marae had established a steering group at a meeting on Sunday to oversee the relocation of the marae.

An appeal for funding from whanau and the public was launched yesterday.

"Our primary issue will be around how we are going to fund it [the marae relocation]. We didn't receive any assistance from the Cyclone Bola fund. Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna has never had its hands out for public funding, but this time we are," Dr Ngata said.

The group would also look at ways to mobilise the "several thousand" whanau members scattered throughout Australia and New Zealand to help.

Dr Ngata, who said replacing the floor in the kitchen alone would cost at least $20,000, said the marae did not have flood insurance because it was in a low-lying, flood-prone area.

"The sad part is that we have spent over $100,000 over the past four years on marae improvements."

"Four or five" new sites were being considered.

- NZPA