Before the official opening
Te Maru o Hikairo
Ngāti Hikairo long dreamed about replacing the old wharekai and kāuta at Waipapa Marae. This was realised when Te Maru o Hikairo was opened by Kingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII on 12 March 2019. The new dining room is expected to feed twice as many people as the previous wharekai in one sitting, with half the number of ringawera required to help feed guests during important annual events such as Poukai. Featuring extensive glass windows the building has also been designed to provide a breathtaking view of Kāwhia Harbour.
The wharekai project was made possible through iwi fundraising efforts and help from the Oranga Marae programme, a co-investment initiative of Te Puni Kōkiri and the Department of Internal Affairs.