Land around Wainuiomata Marae now a Māori Reservation

A decision by the Māori Land Court has set apart 3.5 hectares of land under and around Wainuiomata marae as a Māori Reservation.

The reclassification has been warmly supported by Mayor Ray Wallace and the Hutt City Council as well as both the Wellington Tenths Trust and Te Runanganui of Taranaki.

Mayor Wallace said, “It is our view, as council, that the Wainuiomata marae is a valuable community asset.

“We felt that changing the status of the land would better provide for the cultural and spiritual wellbeing of the marae, its members and their community.”

The process to reclassify the land to a Māori Reservation began 25 years ago with full endorsement of Council and the community. The change, which saw a number of groups working together, has the full support of the Department of Conservation, Wellington Tenths Trust and Te Runanganui of Taranaki. Historically, the Tangata Whenua of the land is Te Atiawa.

The Wainuiomata Charitable Trust will be trustees of the Wainuiomata Marae Reservation.

The Marae which resides on the land was built with the assistance of Te Atiawa and the Wainuiomata Community and opened in 1965. The Wharekai was completed in 1983 and the Wharenui completed in 1988.
ENDS

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