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Background

The premises occupied by Kokiri Marae at 7 – 9 Barnes Street, Seaview was built as a U.S Army store in the 1960’s.

The urgency of establishing Kokiri centres resulted from creation of the Tu Tangata policy which identified that Maori customs and traditions were in very real danger of becoming extinct through lack of concerted development amongst an increasing Maori population who were entrenched in a non Maori social and economic environment.

There needed to be national initiatives to decrease the number of Maori mortality rate due to ill health, increasing numbers of Maori leaving school with little or no qualifications and opportunities, unemployment and lack of cultural knowledge and direction. Central to this was the local gangs, who assisted in shaping the direction of Kokiri, its services and its people.

Kokiri Marae Seaview was the first Kokiri Centre, a community based facility to address and confront these issues by conducting employment based training schemes in a Maori environment. The schemes introduced Maori Culture programmes such as: Te Reo, Carving, Weaving, Whanaungatanga and Whakapapa.

Kokiri Marae moved very quickly from providing employment programs to not only taking on the customary role of a marae but to an organisation that now provides a holistic range of services covering the operation of Education, Te Kohanga Reo, Social and Health Services.

As well as offering front line services, Kokiri Marae has been influential in developing public policy through its involvement in national research initiatives submissions to the government. Membership on national advisory bodies and working parties.

Kokiri Marae is known for establishing and piloting new initiatives or supporting in the development of schemes which now are autonomous of the Marae or are still affliated. Such as the piloting of Te Ataarangi, Tu Tangata and the establishment of the Kokiri Marae Maori Women’s Refuge, started with Kokiri Marae and as the name suggests, still remains under its umbrella. A major role in establishing and supporting the development of other organisations such as Tu Kotahi Maori Asthma Society, Naku Enei Tamariki (maori section) Mana Wahine, Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Maori, Paparakau Multi Cultural Society and Whai Oranga o Te Iwi Health Center.

The advent of a shifting Maori population from all parts of New Zealand and accompanied by numerous tribal affiliations, the use of the marae ensured all Maori, including Pacific Island and Tau Iwi always have access.

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