Turning the first sod at Arowhenua Marae signalled the start of works that will connect the Arowhenua Māori Reserve 881 community, including the marae and Arowhenua Native School, to Temuka’s sewerage system. The project represents a partnership between Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Health, the Timaru District Council, the Te Runaka o Arowhenua, the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education. The $1.5 million project attracted a 50 percent Government subsidy through the Ministry of Health’s Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme.