Taharora Marae, Case Study

Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd, a Māori-owned project management consultancy founded by Sean Deery in June 2024, was engaged by the Taharora Marae Trustees in mid-2024 to lead remediation efforts following devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

Sean's personal connection—born at Te Puia Springs with Taharora as his marae—combined with his 30+ years of experience in land development, made Tohu Whenua the ideal partner.

This case study highlights our role in navigating insurance challenges, developing a comprehensive remediation plan, and preparing a forward-looking Marae Development Plan (dated April 2025) to restore and future-proof the site.

Restoration and Resilience Post-Cyclone Gabrielle

Introduction and Background

Taharora Marae, situated at 603 Kopuaroa Road in Waipiro Bay, Tairāwhiti (East Coast, New Zealand), is a vital cultural and community hub for Ngāti Porou iwi. Established on the Waipiro A41A Māori land block (ML 394781), the marae traces its origins to the whakapapa of Riwai Pakerau and Merekuia Wharepapa, securing turangawaewae through the Ohineakai blocks. As a cornerstone of Māori identity, it supports fundamentals like te reo Māori, tikanga, tangi (funerals), celebrations, and community stability.
The marae complex includes a wharenui (meeting house), wharekai (dining hall), kohanga/storeroom, toilet blocks, septic system, parking area, driveway, and retaining walls.

Challenges Faced

Cyclone Gabrielle inflicted extensive damage, exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities due to historical land alienation (less than 5% of Māori land retained) and climate change. Key issues included:

Physical Damage: Saturated foundations from stormwater pooling (exacerbated by council road drains), water ingress leading to rot in bearers, floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, and guttering. The wharekai, kohanga/storeroom, and wharenui suffered structural instability, with degraded infrastructure like septic systems, toilet blocks, retaining walls, parking areas, and driveways. Storm damage to grounds and car parks added to the toll.

Insurance Delays and Disputes: Initial inaction by insurers, with loss adjusters refusing engineering assessments despite trustee requests. This led to 18-24 months of latent destruction, costing the trust thousands of dollars in reports.

Cultural and Operational Impacts: Marae closure caused disconnection from whānau, hindering tikanga and community events. Environmental challenges, and operational issues relating to the remote location of the project.

Broader Context: Historical alienation fragmented Māori ownership, limiting access for papakāinga and kaitiakitanga. Post-cyclone, the marae's role as an emergency hub was compromised, affecting whānau prosperity, education, and entrepreneurship.

These challenges underscored the need for mana motuhake (self-determination) in restoration.

Approach and Solution

Tohu Whenua Projects adopted a structured, culturally grounded approach, blending project management expertise with Te Ao Māori principles. We began by reviewing 18 months of insurance interactions and lodging formal complaints about corporate delays and behaviour. This prompted the insurer to reassign the claim to a technical specialist in October 2024, expediting

a resolution.

Key frameworks included:

Project Execution Plan (PEP): A living document defining objectives, roles, and methods across the lifecycle (design, construction, commissioning). It incorporated risk analysis, stakeholder management, and change control reviewed by the Project Management Team (PMT) for safety, environmental, and quality impacts.

Marae Development Plan (April 2025): Served as a feasibility study for funding applications (e.g., for projects over $50,000). It refocused the 2023 Strategic Plan post-cyclone, aligning vision with short-term critical needs (1-2 years: repairs), mid-term goals (3-5 years), and long-term benefits.

Insurance Claim Review: Detailed assessment by our Engineer revealed serious structural issues. Mitigation works (e.g., stormwater/drainage improvements by whānau) prevented further deterioration.

We emphasised collaboration with trustees, whānau, and agencies including Local and Central Government ensuring tino rangatiratanga was maintained.

Key Processes and Steps

Damage Assessment and Advocacy (2024): Conducted full structural reviews, identifying re-piling needs for all buildings, panel/carving repairs (per expert reports), and replacements for damaged elements. Formal complaints resolved insurer inaction within months (Insurance Reset Update, October 2024).

Planning and Feasibility (April 2025):

Vision and Aspirations: Restore as a flourishing cultural/emergency hub, upholding traditional practices, reviving te reo, preserving taonga, and fostering whānau reconnection (e.g., collaborate with Nga Hapu o Waipiro; excite uri about whakapapa).

Needs Assessment: Prioritized physical repairs (foundations, roofing, kitchen renovations, septic upgrades) and resilience measures (drainage to mitigate future storms).

Scope and Objectives: Major deliverables included structural soundness, sustainability, and cultural integrity. Milestones: Pre-construction reports, repairs 12 to 16 months), handover.

Compliance, Schedule, and Budget: Ensured regulatory adherence; developed timelines (e.g., July-November 2025 for key works). Budget included costings from surveyors and builders.

Project Organisation: Defined roles (trustees, committees, consultants , communications for stakeholder engagement; quality standards.
Supporting Documentation: Appendices with CVs, fire reports, plans, quotes, and photos.

Remediation Execution: Community-driven, with whānau involved in removing/cleaning whakairo (carvings). Tools such as risk registers, RACI matrices, monthly reports, and roadmaps ensured progress.