Stage one for the Mokau Marae rebuild has been successfully completed and the Marae Trustees are very pleased with the progress to date.
The construction of stage one consisted of a new ablution block, new septic and water tanks, new effluent field systems, a power upgrade and a new water bore.
Mokau Marae Trustee and fundraising committee chairperson, Evelyn Kenwright, says “The Mokau Marae Trustees are very pleased to have completed stage one of this project, which has been done both on time and on budget.”
“We are also very pleased with the progress that we are making towards getting stage two underway and we think with all things going well with funding applications and fundraising we are doing, that we may be able to complete stage three at the same time.”
The marae committee are preparing to lodge an application to Foundation North and Ministry of Internal Affairs for stage two and three funding.
All elements of design and engineering are complete for these next two important stages. The project cost will be approximately $2.5 million.
Evelyn and her fundraising team are organising two sports fundraising events – a Basketball and Netball tournament which is being held at Kensington Stadium, Whangarei during the Christmas break on the 28th and 29th December, and a Touch tournament on the 2nd January 2017 at the Oakura sports complex. These sports tournaments are to raise funds to cover the short fall of $120,000 to complete the Mokau Marae rebuild project.
Evelyn says “We have had a great response to these tournaments, with many teams already registered. We have also got whanau entering teams from Australia who are making the trip home to support this kaupapa.”
“But these tournaments are not just about raising funds for our Marae. It is also about whanaungatanga, coming together, spending time together and having a bit of fun, that’s what it’s all about.”
“We are really proud of our communities and whanau who have supported this rebuild project. Not just the whanau in the Whangaruru area, but there are those from all over the country and in Australia that have supported this project.”
“On behalf of the Mokau Marae I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in any way, and I look forward to seeing us come together, not only for these sports tournaments, but also when we complete our Marae rebuild, where together we will be able to celebrate the completion of our Marae.”
