After more than 130 years without a spiritual home, or papakainga, Te Atiawa hapu Ngati Te Whiti is finalising plans to build a new marae in New Plymouth.
Shaun Keenan says he hopes the marae will become a hub for the wider community. Photo: Laura Maxwell
Project co-ordinator Shaun Keenan said Ngamotu Marae will be city's only marae and will be built on four hectares of land the hapu owns at Port Taranaki.
The $4.5 million project will include a traditional wharenui and split-level wharekai incorporating modern office facilities.
Mr Keenan hopes that the marae will not only be a base for the hapu's 2500 members, but become an asset for the wider community including schools in the Moturoa area.
Construction is set to begin in 2016 and will take about 12 months.