Offenders take care laying the concrete around
marae, marking an end to a two-year project.
Napier’s Maori community will soon benefit from a new marae complex thanks to the efforts of offenders serving community work sentences.
The new Pukemokimoki Marae, an initiative of the Maraenui Marae Establishment Trust, will be a valuable asset to the community.
The work done by offenders has been far from cosmetic. Community work parties have been working on the marae for the past two years, taking on everything from clearing land and laying concrete for the carpark, to planting native trees and building fences. Former Project Co-ordinator Mike Taane says the whole process has been made easy by helpful and willing Corrections staff, including Probation Officers Tom Hemopo and Stuart McKenzie, and CW Supervisor Gary Huata.
Mike has also been impressed by the hard yards that offenders have put in.
“The guys have worked really hard to get the complex from ground level to where it is today, and have been an integral part of the whole project,” says Mike.
“The marae belongs to the whole community, rather than any one iwi, so presentation is important, and high standards have had to be met. The offenders, and their supervisors, have certainly come through for us.”
A formal presentation and official opening will take place in October when the marae will be complete and ready for use.
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Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327