The Sydney Marae Alliance says despite pushback, progress is continuing on plans to build a marae, with about $1 million expected to be confirmed soon and construction set to begin this year.
The pūtea was announced in April last year by Labor MP Chris Bowen, who said if the Albanese Labor Government is re-elected, $1 million will be contributed to the kaupapa.
Deputy chair Louise Barber, who attended the Te Whenua Moemoeā regional competition at the weekend to promote the kaupapa, says key steps are being completed to get the build under way.
“We also have completely signed off on the lease on the whenua and gravestones with Cumberland Council. So those things. Lease first, then next is the construction certificate which gives us authority from a council perspective to actually build the facility and then we will be commencing the build this year, 2026.”
Iwi Moemoeā
She says tautoko from First Nations has been sought, something that has always been important. She adds Indigenous partners have been part of the design phase, describing it as a partnership.
“And then our tautoko with the Dharug. I want to be really, really clear. It is there, and so Aunty Joyce has been at all of the Waitangi, she’s been on the whenua with us.
“We ensure that her whakaaro and her people’s whakaaro around healing spaces and a rātou tikanga is also somewhat woven into it because it actually is a partnership.”
The alliance has also gained support from local MP Dr Hugh McDermott, who earlier this month spoke in Parliament about the benefits of the marae.
“The Sydney Marae Alliance is also a leading example of this cultural stewardship. Based in Greystanes in the heart of Western Sydney, the Alliance and its members strive to preservbe and protect Māori culture.”
Mow Rākau
The alliance has also been hosting kaupapa on the whenua where the marae will be built. One initiative, Mow Rākau, invites whānau to come together to mow the land.
“There’s always those that don’t agree, but you have to keep moving forward because the benefits for our mokopuna and those that are not even born yet are massive. I have to say we deserve it. We deserve to maintain tikanga, maintain te ao Māori for our mokopuna.”
A kai tahi on the land to bring whānau together is scheduled for Easter weekend.
