Kauwhata Marae - Kai Iwi Paa

03/09/2026

🎉 100 Club Draw Results Update 🎉

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone for your patience and continued support of our Marae fundraising efforts.
Congratulations to our 100 Club winners:

January 2026
🏆 $100 - Vanessa Pokai ( #38)
🏆 $100 - Kayla Topia ( #71)
🏆 $300 - Tereasa Elers ( #24)

February 2026
🏆 $100 - Char Cody ( #56)
🏆 $100 - Roimata Olsen ( #40)
🏆 $300 - M Lawton ( #91)

March 2026
🏆 $100 - Waimarama Freeman ( #56)
🏆 $100 - Mary Sanson ( #4)
🏆 $300 - Ihaka Frankie ( #15)

April 2026
🏆 $100 – Melissa Edge ( #50)
🏆 $100 - Annie Scoon ( #53)
🏆 $300 – Julie O'Connell ( #34)

May 2026
🏆 $100 - Roimata Olsen ( #40)
🏆 $100 - Melissa Edge ( #50)
🏆 $300 - Mary Sanson ( #4)

June 2026
🏆 $100 - Wiki Searancke ( #20)
🏆 $100 – Julie O'Connell ( #34)
🏆 $300 - Jill Topia ( #19)

July 2026
🏆 $100 - Aroha Metuamate ( #26)
🏆 $100 - Remi Whatakira ( #2)
🏆 $300 – Sharmain Simeon ( #60)

If you're one of our winners, please send the page a private message with your bank account details so we can arrange payment.

We'd also like to acknowledge that the draws should ideally be completed each month. As many of you will appreciate, our fundraising efforts are run by volunteers who are balancing whānau, work, and the many commitments that life brings. At times we've also had to spend considerable time following up payments before draws could proceed, which has contributed to delays.
While this isn't an excuse, we wanted to be transparent about the challenges we've faced and to thank everyone for their understanding and patience.

We're currently taking some time to regroup and review our fundraising activities, including the future of the 100 Club. We'll be sharing an update shortly on the next steps, along with the total amount raised through the 100 Club and other fundraising efforts to date.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who continues to support the Marae. Every contribution makes a difference, and we couldn't do it without you. If you have any question please feel free to message us❤️

13/05/2026

He karanga ki te iwi o Kauwhata

As we continue the mahi of strengthening our marae and planning for the future, we invite our whānau to come together for our next kaupapa — Hina te Pō Strategy Wānanga, supported by AraHina Strategic Planning Consultancy. This wānanga is an important step in shaping the long-term direction of Kauwhata Marae – Kai Iwi Pā, ensuring our vision, values, and priorities are led by our people and grounded in who we are.

✨ SAVE THE DATE
Sunday 31 May 2026
10.00am – 4.00pm
Kauwhata Marae, Te Arakura Road

What this wānanga will cover
Together with AraHina, we will create our collective vision for Kauwhata Marae. The wānanga will be delivered through a Te Ao Māori lens, honouring our whakapapa, our whenua, and the aspirations of our whānau today and for the generations to come.
E te iwi – he mea nui tō koutou reo, tō koutou mātauranga, me ō koutou wawata.
We especially encourage our kaumātua and rangatahi to attend this wānanga.

For our kaumātua, your wisdom, lived experience, and deep connection to our whakapapa and tikanga are essential to guiding our future. Your voice ensures we remain grounded in who we are and where we come from.

For our rangatahi, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of our marae. Your ideas, energy, and aspirations are vital as we plan ahead for the generations to come.

Mā te kotahitanga, ka whai huarahi tātou.
By coming together across generations, we strengthen our collective vision and ensure it reflects all of us.

✍️ A register your interest form will be updated on the event page next week, along with more information for those wishing to stay at the Marae on Saturday.

📅 Mark the date. Bring the whānau and spread the word. Come be part of the kōrero.

11/04/2026

A huge mihi to everyone who turned up to sandbag today ahead of the forecasted weather tomrrow.
Three Feilding runs in the tippy truck, ten scoops of sand, and 500 sandbags down in 1 hour 40 minutes.
Ka mau te wehi!
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou 💚

10/04/2026

With the forecasted weather, we’re getting organised to sandbag the back of Mokopuna, as this is where water has come through in the past.

📍 Meet at the marae at 2.00pm.
Sand will be onsite and we’ll work together to fill, move, and build sandbags to protect the area.

🧱 Mahi will be split into groups
Filling sandbags
Tying sandbags
Transporting sandbags to the back of Mokopuna
Unloading
Building the sandbag wall (there’s an art to it — instructions will be provided)

🧤 Please bring if you can
Work gloves
Shovels
Wheelbarrows (we have one onsite, a couple more would be hugely helpful)
Water bottles — it’ll be thirsty mahi

💛 Important note
There is a group currently staying at the marae who have the space booked, so please be mindful, and considerate of them while we’re working.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who’s able to come along and help out — every hand makes a difference 💪🌧️

21/02/2026

E ngaa ringa raupii, e ngaa ringa raupaa e noho ana ki teeneki pito o te motuu, teenaa taatou katoa!

Kia ora e te whaanau, Poukai at Poutuu Paa is fast approaching on Saturday 7th Maarch. Kauwhata marae used to cook Sunday breakfast led by Aunty Mary Sanson. We will pick this up again this year on Sunday 8th March. If you are available or would like to offer your time, to support the kaupapa please get in touch with us here on this page.

Mauri ora!

12/02/2026

✨ Kia ora e te iwi ✨
Arohamai for the late draw of our November and December 100 Club winners.
The delay was due to whānau commitments over the holiday period, and we truly appreciate your understanding.
These draws were completed at our combined Marae Trustee & Marae Committee meeting.

🟦 November Winners 🟦
1st – Kayla Topia ( #1) – $300
2nd – Haimona Searancke ( #27) – $100
3rd – Kelly Lawton ( #6) – $100

🟩 December Winners 🟩
1st – Javiah Wharerau ( #100) – $300
2nd – Chari Codii‑Vaka ( #39) – $100
3rd – Sherylee Cribb ( #11) – $100

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa for your continued support January draw will be done in the coming week with an update to how much we have raised so far for our Oranga Marae Project!

Call now to connect with business.

23/11/2025

We are truly honoured and thankful for the generous support that helped bring our Kuia Te Ara home.

A heartfelt thank you to our main funders
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Manawatuu District Council
- Ooroua Trust team.
A huge mihi for believing in our vision and making this project possible. Your commitment to community development and cultural empowerment is truly appreciated.

Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te haapai oo ki muri, e kore e mimiti te puna o te aroha ki a koutou katoa. Those who led from the front, and those that led from the behind the scenes, and every single person in between, thank you for your unwavering support, guidance, and aroha throughout this journey. Everyone's contributions have uplifted our people and laid foundations that will benefit our whaanau for generations to come.

Last but not least, we extend our deepest thanks to all our whaanau and iwi who attedned and supported this kaupapa, your collective strength and support were instrumental in its success.

07/11/2025

Reminder - Anyone who wishes to participate in the haka poowhiri, we will be having practice on the aatea at the paa, today Saturday 8 November 2025, 10am.