Manawatū campus needs its own Marae

Massey University “continues to lack cultural heritage” says a Māori student rep, as the Palmerston North campus sits without a Marae.  

But the university currently has no plans to build a Marae on the Manawatū campus and doesn’t have to money.

Massey opened a Marae in 1980 on the Hokowhitu campus, being used regularly until it was sold along with the rest of the campus in 2016. 

Distance Māori rep, Te Kakenga Kawiti-Bashara said, “The campus itself though has no central Māori hub, such as a marae.”  

The Manawatū campus currently has three main spaces where Māori students can congregate – The YFC Building, Social Sciences Tower and Māori Studies. 

“I believe the University, in due course, should construct a Marae,” Kawiti-Bashara said.

He said the current Māori spaces holistically portray similar qualities and aspects that a Marae would. 

However, Kawiti-Bashara said, “An issue Māori students face is that all three of the buildings are on the outskirts of the campus, all far away from each other.” 

The old Marae was sold to a local developer, and it is now owned by Māori based tertiary institute, Te Wananga o Aotearoa. The old Hokowhitu campus is now mostly used by the army, young cadets, and the SoundWorks Music School. 

Kawiti-Bashara said, “If there were to be a Marae constructed, I’d want internal Māori student voices heard and acted upon in terms of their studies before even thinking about a new building.” 

Massey’s Wellington campus opened the Te Rau Karamu Marae in 2021, being enjoyed ever since.  

However, the Albany campus is also missing a Marae, but has a space for Māori students.  

Meihana Durie, deputy vice-chancellor Māori said the university does not currently have plans to build a Marae on the Manawatū campus.  

Durie said the university is not in a financial position to commit to a project of this level. 

“The establishment of any marae is a process that necessitates a high level of mana whenua involvement, endorsement and leadership.” 

Durie said the local iwi, Rangitāne o Manawatū, had indicated for some time that their major commitments currently are two local projects of high cultural significance for the iwi.  

Durie said the university maintains longstanding relationships with many local Marae in Manawatū. Noho Marae (Marae stayovers) had been a common feature in some university courses for years.  

“The university is currently working with Rangitāne o Manawatū on planning that will further highlight and emphasise the identity and presence of the iwi across the rohe (region) in alignment with the Pou Hono (connection) pillar of the Massey University Strategy 2022-2027.” 

Māori student rep, Micah Geiringer said, “Massey has and continues to lack cultural heritage and how they tell stories of their whenua and their people.”  

“For now though, it would be better to utilise the resources and spaces we have now that can cater to the Māori students and staff.”