Marae plan forges ahead

Plans for a new marae on the west coast are a step closer to fruition.

Waitakere city councillors have approved plans to negotiate the purchase of land adjoining Lake Wainamu at Bethells Beach for the project.

The Nor-west News understands it has allocated $1 million to buy the site.

Councillors met behind closed doors to discuss the issue and many of the details remain under wraps.

West Auckland-based Maori tribe Te Kawerau a Maki has been looking to build a marae at Bethells for a number of years.

The council has considered a number of possible sites since the mid-1990s but the latest is the most feasible to date.

Mayor Bob Harvey says council support for the project is unanimous.

"There’s been overwhelming support for a facility like this at Bethells. It will be a marae and community centre."

Council spokesman Wally Thomas says further details will not yet be made public because of commercial sensitivity.

He says more information will be released when negotiations are finalised.

Te Kawerau a Maki links with the west date back to the 1600s and the tribe is acknowledged as the district’s original inhabitant.

Much of its land was sold during the 19th century and little remained in tribal hands by the time chief Te Utika Te Aroha died in 1912.

Most tribe members moved to the settlements of their close relatives at Orakei and Pukaki but kept property at Bethells, or Te Henga.

The area was sold during the 1960s when land titles were individualised.

Te Kawerau a Maki has retained an interest in the region and works closely with the council in an advisory role. It has long pushed for land to build a marae at Bethells as it seeks to re-establish a physical presence out west.

Spokesman Wayne Knox was not available for comment.

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