Massey marae build further delayed by Covid-19 restrictions

An inside source has told Massive Magazine that the reason for the incompletion of the marae on the Massey Wellington campus is due to the project being $700,000 short on building a canopy between the wharenui and wharekai.

The marae was set to be completed in 2016, but four years later the $1.875 million dollar construction and re-positioning project is still yet to open. 

A spokesperson from Massey University denied the source’s allegations around the cost of the canopy, saying that quotes have still not been confirmed for finishing costs due to delays caused by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

“This in turn has meant that some work scheduled for earlier this year has been delayed, and that some details for the last remaining work to be done requires further and final confirmation,” they added.

Aside from the canopy, there is still some further landscaping work to be completed.

“Despite this, progress is still being made and we anticipate the completion of the art installation next month.”

Codes of compliance were issued for the wharenui and wharekai in August last year after design and build issues delayed the project. 

The marae is said to provide a culturally significant embodiment of the university’s Te Tiriti led aspirations, along with recognising the Te Kuratini Marae, which previously stood on the same site and ‘played a pivotal role in the life of the Pukeahu [Wellington] Campus.’