MARAEROA MARAE ASSOCIATION
Humble Beginnings
Maraeroa Marae began in 1973 after the Porirua Licensing Trust donated the old Porirua Tavern (The Bottom Tavern) to Maraeroa Marae Association Inc.
The members of the marae did various fundraising ventures eventually accumulating enough funds to have the building relocated to where it stands now in Waitangirua.
The building was moved in three sections making up the wharenui, kitchen and offices, and the wherekai (dining area).
The wharenui was given the name Ngā Hau e Whā to acknowledge that the marae is for everyone from all four winds, and to pay tribute to the many nationalities that contributed and helped establish the first multi-cultural marae in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Ūkaipō Hiato
Ko Tipimana rāua ko Pukerau ngā maunga kaitiaki
Ko Waitangi a rua ngā wai rere
Ko Ukaipo Hiato te wharenui
Ko Te Māra te wharekai
Ko Maraeroa te marae e!
(M.Sweeney)
The new marae Ūkaipō Hiato was always apart of the dream and this came to fruition by all the determination and hard work by all those before us. After it's completion the opening was held in November, 1996.
We pay tribute to all those who dreamed and worked tirelessly to establish our marae. We not only serve this marae, we serve them, to keep the dream going.
(MMAI summary pg. 6)