A year-long project is underway to bolster flood resilience of marae in Te Taitokerau. This project aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change on these vital community hubs.

Funded primarily by the government with $600,000 from Crown Infrastructure Partners, and an additional $30,000 from Northland Regional Council rates, the project is set to be completed by mid-2025.

The initiative focuses on marae most vulnerable to flooding, identified using council’s GIS flood mapping. The project covers 35 marae throughout Te Taitokerau.

Council’s Rivers team is working to enhance the preparedness of these marae in collaboration with Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM), the Climate Action and Natural Hazards team; local councils; and tāngata whenua. CDEM is assisting with emergency planning, while the Climate Action and Natural Hazards Team and local councils are available to help explore options to relocate some marae.

Already, the project has shown promising results. For example, a marae committee that has been doing planning for papakāinga housing has revised its plans to account for future sea-level rises, considering options such as raising houses on stilts or developing relocatable buildings.

This initiative aligns with one of the priorities set out in Tāiki ē, our Te Tiriti Strategy and Implementation Plan, to support tāngata whenua in addressing the effects of the climate crisis and enhancing community resilience to natural hazards. By empowering local Māori leaders, the project aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of communities before, during and after natural hazard events.

The marae flood resilience project’s 25 Far North district marae are: Te Hūruhi and Ururangi at Awarua; Ngāi Tawake at Matarāua; Mohinui and Kawiti at Waiomio; Waikare (Te Tūruki) at Waikare; Ōtiria at Ōtiria; Tuhirangi and Ōtātara at Waimā; Mōrehu, Ōhākī and Taiao at Pawarenga; Ngāti Manawa (Te Waiariki) and Waipuna at Panguru; Waihou (Waimirirangi) at Waihou; Te Pīti (Ōmanaia) at Ōmanaia; Mātaitaua at Hōreke; Te Arohanui (Mangataipā) at Mangamuka Bridge; Mangamuka at Mangamuka; Mātihetihe at Mitimiti; Waimanoni at Awanui; Te Reo Mihi at Te Hāpua; Tauteihiihi (Ngātokimatawhaorua) at Kohukohu; Tauratumaru at Utakura, and Aputerewa at Mangōnui.

Its six Whangārei district marae are: Mōkau at Mōkau; Ngātiwai at Ngāiotonga; Akerama at Tōwai; Maungārongo at Porotī, Whakapara at Whakapara and Ōtetao Reti (Ōtetao) at Punaruku.

The project’s five Kaipara district marae are: Naumai at Naumai; Ahikiwi at Kaihū; Ōtamatea at Whakapirau, and Te Houhanga at Dargaville.