Oranga Marae

Oranga Marae is a funding program designed to support the cultural and physical vitality of marae as centres of Māori Identity and Mātauranga Māori. The program operates under the vision that when marae prosper, so do the people. The fund supports marae-based organizations to design and develop initiatives as defined by and for Māori, building capability, capacity and self-reliance, and strengthening intergenerational connections and learning. The program offers two main pathways: Te Ahi Kaa (which includes Te Paepae for creating marae plans and obtaining condition reports, Pakihi Marae for essential repairs, and Te Whare Marae for technical feasibility and building support) and Te Kete Mātauranga (for marae-based initiatives focused on intergenerational transmission of mātauranga Māori). Funding ranges from up to $75,000 for planning phases to up to $300,000 for essential repairs projects. Applicants must be traditional or urban marae on land set aside for marae purposes, and applications must be submitted by trustees of the Māori Reservation or another approved legal entity. The fund supports strengthening the capacity of Hapori Māori to be centres of community resilience, emergency response, and places for people to connect during times of crisis, while preparing for collective responses to natural disasters and emergencies. Oranga Marae aims to uplift Māori growth and aspirations, increase support for building projects encompassing both physical structures and traditional knowledge, and grow self-governance, self-determination, independence and control from Māori, for Māori. The program encourages sharing taonga tuku iho, kōrero tuku iho, mātauranga, knowledge, stories, skills, attitudes, and traditions between generations.