Gisborne-based waka ama club to get $1.6m facility after cyclone devastation

A start will be made in March on a facility in Anzac Park to house Mareikura waka ama club's craft, which have been hard hit by weather events for decades.

Two years on from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, work will begin on a $1.6 million enclosed building in Gisborne’s Anzac Park to house Mareikura Waka Ama Club’s waka.

Work begins on the project in March, a long-awaited future-proofing for the club and the base of its activities in the park.

Mareikura, the oldest waka ama club in New Zealand, was hit hard by Waimata River flood events that have inundated the park, most recently Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

At the time, all the small waka were destroyed, the main training ground was covered in brown sludge and plans for a new boatshed were ruined when the riverbank was wiped out.

Since the club’s inception about 40 years ago, its waka have been stored outdoors and exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Trust Tairāwhiti initially approved $502,677 to Mareikura in 2022 as an “early win” project in the Tairāwhiti Sports Facilities Business case.

After Cyclone Gabrielle the trust increased its contribution to just over $1.3m.

A full rescope, redesign and relocation of the facility to ensure it can withstand future flooding risks increased the project’s total cost to just over $1.6m.

The waka housing facility will eventually be enclosed. It will be built on an elevated section of the Anzac Park.

Now located in an elevated area of Anzac Park, the facility will protect the club’s waka from the elements.

“Some of the setbacks have actually reflected positives as well,” project manager Shane Kingsbeer said.

“We’ve upgraded the original planned concrete floor so in the future, the club can close the whole building in and create a more enclosed and flexible space.”

A home base has been a long-held dream for the club.

“Waka ama participation has seen remarkable growth over the years, and the new facility will provide a solid foundation for further expansion.”

Club spokeswoman Joelene Takai said waka ama was a sport that enhances wellbeing and connects whānau of all ages, and many people were excited to see this project come to fruition.

“For our older members, seeing it will be a hā [taking a breath] moment. For our rangatahi, it’ll be a place they can connect with,” Takai said.

“We want them to treat it like a marae, uphold its tikanga, and know they belong – because they’re the next generation to maintain it and keep its kaupapa strong.

“It’s not just for us but for our whole community. This is more than just a storage facility, it’s an investment in our future.”

Takai said the project was also part of the club’s broader vision to instil mātauranga Māori and a sense of responsibility for caring for the taiao (environment).

“Looking after the whenua, looking after the awa – it’s all connected," she said.

“We want to teach our rangatahi about the importance of protecting the awa, which once sustained our ancestors and continues to be a lifeline for our people so they can carry this onto future generations.”

Funding for the project also includes contributions from the Lottery Community Facilities, which provided $250,000, and the Eastern Central Community Trust, which contributed $50,000.

Mareikura raised $20,000 through its fundraising efforts.