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9

As the busiest marae in the Hauraki Plains, Te Pai o

Hauraki knows the importance of having warm, clean

and tidy facilities to extend manaakitanga and keep

whānau and manuhiri comfortable and safe.

Thousands of people attend the marae each year,

for hui, tangi and unveilings, school visits and wananga,

and celebrations for significant occasions.

A marae feasibility study generated a daunting

programme of upgrades. Safety was an early priority,

with ramps, walkways and outdoor areas made accessible

for growing numbers of kaumātua. Next up, was the

marae kitchen upgrade, to meet the latest health and

safety standards and care for the visiting manuhiri.

Te Pai o Hauraki

Paeroa

A culture of creativity, woven for all – te hononga

auaha o nga iwi katoa. This is the vision that inspires

Twin Rivers Community Art Centre, in Ngaruawahia; a

vision they are achieving, after 14 years of providing

creative opportunities for local communities.

The centre attracts people from Ngaruawahia and

surrounding communities: from established artists, to

tamariki, to people who have never turned their hand

to anything artistic before.

Workshops, exhibitions, school holiday programmes

and art therapy are all part of the mix, with

celebrations and commemorations a particular focus.

Twin Rivers Arts (Ngaruawahia) Council

Ngaruawahia

Rural sport has its challenges, but Southern United Rugby

Football Club in Tokoroa is doing its best to ensure local

people – men, women and children – get to play.

The club is the southernmost rugby football club in the

Waikato league. With around 320 players, including a full

women’s team and 200 primary-aged boys and girls, it is a

large club for a rural town, and enjoys its share of success.

All this takes an enormous amount of coordination, but

club Treasurer Linley Balvert reckons it’s worth it. Linley

also considers the club lucky to have access to buses.

“Being so far south, transport is one of the biggest

barriers our players face. With buses, we can make sure

everyone gets to the game, safely and on time.”

Southern United Rugby Football Club

Tokoroa