Whakapara opens new wharekai

Chairwoman of Whakapara Marae Dale van Engelen says a new wharekai has been a long time coming - this weekend it will finally open its doors. Photo / John Stone

The design for a new wharekai at a Northland marae has existed since the 90s, so whanau are elated the design has finally come to life.

It's been a lengthy project but tomorrow Whakapara Marae's new wharekai, Te Tawaka, will finally be opened. Chairwoman of the marae, Dale van Engelen, said it had been a long time coming.

"There's been so many different delays, we're ready," she said.

The new wharekai will become more than just a place to feed the whanau, Mrs van Engelen said. The building, which can seat 200 people inside and 50 people outside, would open up a range of opportunities for the marae.

"It will be a place where people can come to eat and a place of learning. A place to display art, to encourage people to learn about our culture, gosh we won't know until it's built," she said.

The wharekai was one of three buildings designed in 1997 by whanaunga Rau Hoskins. The first building to be opened in 1998 was the wharenui, the second was the wharekai and the third will be an ablution block.

Mrs van Engelen said the names of the wharenui and wharekai hold a special significance.

"The name of the wharenui is Te Ihi o Nehua named after our great great grandfather Eru Nehua and Te Tawaka was his wife, that's what we have named the wharekai. For us it's about the reuniting of husband and wife," Mrs van Engelen said.

The marae whanau have been fundraising for the $800,000 project since 2000 and have received grants from Te Runanga-o-Ngapuhi, the ASB Community Trust, Lotteries and donations from whanau, the community and others.

"We're just so thankful you know. We've had whanau from Perth donate - this has become a way they can get involved with the marae," she said.

The marae's old wharekai burnt to the ground in March after an electrical fire in the fridge. Mrs van Engelen said knowing the new wharekai was not far from complete lifted some of the pressure.

"It's lessened the impact of losing that 'cos we knew we'd have a wharekai. If we didn't have this we wouldn't have anywhere to feed the people and our marae actually wouldn't be able to function."

Tonight, celebrations for the opening kick off - at 6pm whanau and manuhiri will be welcomed onto the marae and tomorrow morning at 5.30am there will be a dawn blessing to open the wharekai.