Waikare Marae.

CLIENT | Waikare Marae Whanau + Screentime Productions

OUR ROLE | Sustainability Advisor + Build Team

Waikare is a Marae with an incredible view - located next to the Moana in Matapihi, a suburb and peninsular of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. Their youthful and enthusiastic Marae committee were a pleasure to work with as we planned and carried out the work at their Marae and surrounding environment.

The Waikare Urupa is located atop a cliff on the edge of the moana, a beautiful location for the resting place of ancestors. As the cliff has eroded over time, moving closer and closer to the Urupa, an established dump site is being unearthed, with rubbish being loosened and dragged out to sea. Higgins worked to safely remove as much rubbish as possible with heavy machinery and then re-shaped the cliff. Whanau re-planted the cliff face to stabilise what remained and decrease the chance of further upheaval.

Back at the Marae, significant landscaping took place within the large grounds. The perimeter was re-fenced to ensure safety against a large drop down the cliff face. An old and well-loved shed was demolished to open the views to the moana. The exteriors of Marae buildings were painted throughout.

Attention was given to the wharekai, which sits in a prominent position within the Marae. A large deck was built to encourage outdoor activity and to make the most of the views. Because of the proximity to the moana, concrete was chosen over timber as the primary material due to it’s durability and longevity. A motif was cast into the face of the concrete to mimic how the shape of the landscape has changed because of erosion and rising sea levels since the Marae was built in the late 1800’s – a reminder of our relationship with nature and with time.