A Rotorua computer software and support director is striving to equip local marae with wireless internet by March next year, partly as an incentive to get rangatahi back to the pa.
After Dark Design Media director Hemi Bennett is leading the initiative with support from Potaua Biasiny-Tule, of tangatawhenua.com, and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
Mr Bennett says getting Te Arawa marae connected to wifi will be costly - but suggests it will be worth it.
He says having technology on the pa will be a great drawcard to get young people back to the marae. It also opens up marae to whanaunga (relatives) living overseas, because they could tune in to wananga (workshops) happening at the pa.
Mr Bennett says he's sought some funding for the project and is hopeful to get wifi on marae by March.