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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 HaurakiPaeroa
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) CouncilNgaruawahia
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 ClubTokoroa