Te Kawerau ā Maki secures $2.2m Auckland Council grant for new Te Henga Marae

Auckland’s last remaining iwi without a marae is moving closer to fulfilling a century-old dream of establishing a permanent home on their ancestral lands. On Saturday, 29 August 2026, Te Ao Māori News reported that Auckland Council has granted $2.2 million to Te Kawerau ā Maki to kickstart the first stage of building Te Henga Marae at Bethells Beach. The funding, sourced from the Council’s Tahua Huanga Ora Māori Outcomes Fund, will support essential enabling works, earthworks, and foundational infrastructure. The project marks a significant return to the coast for the iwi, whose previous marae was lost after a dam construction flooded the site and colonial land loss left the people without a dedicated tūrangawaewae. Te Kawerau ā Maki chief executive Edward Ashby told Te Ao Māori News that the iwi has been deeply involved in the West Auckland community for centuries but currently operates from a Henderson office. He noted that without a marae, whānau must rent town halls or use the marae of relatives for tangihanga and celebrations. Ashby expressed a hope that construction will gain significant momentum over the next five years to ensure the iwi's kaumātua see the project completed. Auckland Council’s portfolio lead for Māori outcomes, Councillor Matt Winiata, confirmed that councillors approved the funding unanimously. Winiata shared a personal connection to the kaupapa, noting that his late grandfather and father were involved in the foundational research for the iwi's Treaty of Waitangi settlements. He described the successful funding vote as a special moment in securing a home for the iwi once again. The land at Te Henga was previously returned to Te Kawerau ā Maki by the council in 2020.