The hub of a community  

Piritahi Marae, the only marae on Waiheke Island, is used by up to 5000 people a year for weddings, tangi, training, education programmes and celebrations.

From the 2010 Annual Report
The marae is the centre of Māori culture and development on the island and is known and respected for its broad multicultural emphasis, where everyone is welcome.

It provides community programmes including free health care, taiaha and waka ama training, Māori language and culture lessons and is the island’s focus for the annual Matariki and Waitangi Day celebrations.

The marae was built in 1992 and 10 years later volunteers began work to create a traditional look and design for the wharenui (meeting house) – a cultural statement of the tangata whenua history, whakapapa, philosophy and mana.

In the first two years all the tukutuku panels and pou were completed, then the timber was bought to finish the wharenui. Finally, in 2009, the ceiling kowhaiwhai pattern was finished.

ASB Community Trust recognises the special role of the marae to the communities in our region and can help fund building upgrades and extensions. In 2009 a grant helped Piritahi Marae install fire sprinklers and upgrade the kitchen to commercial food premises standards.