THE new manuwhiri side shelters Photo: Sigrid Christiansen
Te Kūiti Pā has reopened after recent outdoor building work.
In an intimate early-morning blessing ceremony on Saturday attended only by a small number of whānau, kaumātua including Josephine Anderson, Ngahuia James and Kingi Turner joined pakeke and rangatahi to re-awaken the marae.
Trustee and caretaker Shannon Manawaiti said planned work on the paepae shelters on both sides was now complete.
The builders had also been able to include other finishing touches, such as footpaths, which were not part of the original brief, however the renovations “would not have looked right otherwise,” he said.
The project was successfully carried out by whānau-owned business, Hōkioi Builders with support from Manga Roach Contracting.
Co-owner of husband-and-wife builders Hōkioi, Natasha Willison-Reardon, who has close whakapapa connections to Te Kūiti Pā, told MFM radio, when work began in December, that it had been a blessing to have received the honour to work on this project.
Shannon said the next major events at the pā would be the dawn service and breakfast on Anzac Day, plus the Poukai on the last Sunday in March, which in 2024 means Easter weekend.
