Unitec opens Marae 

Source: ONE News

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Mt Albert Unitec has officially opened its wharenui, 10 years after a challenge thrown down by a Scotsman.

Former chief executive John Webster put forward the idea of a marae; an idea that was picked up by Unitec kaumatua John Turei.

With the marae finally completed people began arriving at dawn for the opening ceremony.

"By chance, by design or whatever, we named it Ngakau Mahaki and to me that was the best statement for koro John because koro John was all about humility dignity and respect," says Maori advisor Hare Paniora.

John Turei is no longer here but his wife and daughter were at the opening.

"Its a very spiritual moving time for me, it's a culmination of eight years in the making and it's something that honours my father's memory so it's very special," says Tui Ahloo, marae project facilitator.

The work of master carver Lyonel Grant helps make the wharenui even more special, with a feature wall and a unique spouting system using Maori carvings.

The project cost $5 million and in keeping with tradition, no nails were used.

"The construction is really traditional," says Paniora. "The structure is the carvings, if you took the carving away the house would fall down."