Context

Te Puni Kōkiri has begun a project to support the development of marae throughout the country.

Te Puni Kōkiri’s Marae Development Project has produced a Marae Development Questionnaire to collect critical information from participating marae.

Marae representatives, with the assistance of Te Puni Kōkiri regional staff, have been invited to participate in the project by completing the questionnaire.

The questionnaire looks into everything from governance to how marae store, record and maintain their mātauranga and taonga, as well as the physical condition of their marae and associated buildings.

Participating marae will receive a customised Marae Feedback Report that records essential information about the cultural and physical facilities of the marae. They will also receive other useful resources for the marae’s benefit including the Te Puni Kōkiri Marae Governance and Management Toolkit.

Te Puni Kōkiri’s 2008-09 Statement of Intent specifies “supporting the development of Marae as community focal points” as one of its key outcomes.

While Te Puni Kōkiri is aware of the needs of some individual marae in the regions, Te Puni Kōkiri does not have up-to-date information about the condition or sustainability of marae nationally.

In addition to collecting information about the physical and cultural sustainability of the marae and its people, the results of the Marae Development Project will inform marae communities, as well as government agencies, about future marae development opportunities, resources and programmes.

For more information, contact your local Te Puni Kōkiri office.

Related resources

• Information Sheet [PDF, 57KB]
• Marae Development Questionnaire [PDF, 832KB]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the Marae Development Project?
   The purpose of the project is to encourage a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and information between Te Puni Kōkiri and marae. This project will help marae to carry out an organisational self-assessment to identify future development opportunities and aspirations; and support the collection of information about marae nationally.
    
2. Why are we doing this work?
   The Te Puni Kōkiri Statement of Intent 2008-09 identifies “Supporting the development of Marae as community focal points” as one of our key outcomes.
   
   While Te Puni Kōkiri is aware of the needs of some individual marae in our regions, we do not have up-to-date information about the condition or sustainability of our marae nationally.
    
3. What has happened since the last survey?
   The results of the 1997 National Survey of Marae ensured that agencies providing resources for capital works on marae were better informed about where those resources were needed. The data contained in that survey was useful in assisting to identify the physical needs of marae at the time.
   This latest questionnaire will collect information about both the physical and cultural sustainability of the marae and their people. The results of the Marae Development project will better inform marae committees and their beneficiaries, as well as government agencies about future marae development opportunities, resources and programmes.
    
4. How many marae are expected to participate in this project?
   Te Puni Kōkiri records indicate that there are approximately 1300 marae in New Zealand. The project aims to encourage all marae to participate in the self-assessment exercise.
    
5. How will the self-assessment help marae?
   Within 10 days of the completion of the self-assessment interview, the nominated marae representative will receive a customised Marae Feedback Report that records essential information about the cultural and physical facilities of the marae.
   The Marae Feedback Report includes all responses made by marae representatives to the questionnaire. It also includes suggested action items and referrals to individuals and organisations that may be able to assist marae to reach their potential. The intention of this report is to document future development opportunities and aspirations, and build a foundation for ongoing reflection, learning and growth.
    
6. How will the self-assessment be administered?
   The preference is the ‘kanohi ki te kanohi’ approach where Te Puni Kōkiri staff will assist marae representatives to complete the Marae Development questionnaire through interviews held at the marae. However, other methods may need to be considered (ie collective workshops or mail-outs) where the ‘kanohi ki te kanohi’ approach is not possible.
    
7. How long will the self-assessment interview take to complete?
   Interviews with marae involved in the pilot test ranged from 2-4 hours, depending on the level of detail and discussions marae wished to share during the interview.
    
8. What about koha for the marae who participate in this exercise?
   A koha to each participating marae consists of: the customised Marae Feedback Report, copies of regional and national reports produced from the project, an information pack containing the Te Puni Kōkiri Marae Governance and Management Toolkit, an e-copy of the Te Puni Kōkiri Governance Guide, and other marae development resource material.
    
9. How will the information be captured?
   Information will be captured on a laptop using the Q100 software program designed specifically for this project.
    
10. What about privacy and data protection?
    Information will be stored securely within the Te Puni Kōkiri knowledge and information management policies and structures. Information will not be shared with any third parties without the consent of marae representatives.
11. Who owns the information?
    Individual marae information belongs to the marae who complete the questionnaire. This information will be returned to the marae in the form of a customised Marae Feedback Report. National aggregated data will belong to and be held by Te Puni Kōkiri to inform future marae development initiatives and policy developments.
     
12. Who will have access to the information?
    Only nominated marae representatives and authorised Te Puni Kōkiri staff will have access to individual marae information.
     
13. How will the information be kept secure?
    Information will be held within the Te Puni Kōkiri knowledge and information management policies and structures, with restricted access to authorised Te Puni Kōkiri staff.
     
14. What will happen to the results?
    Information and results from the project will be used to produce aggregated regional and national reports. Those reports will not refer to or identify individual marae.
     
15. Will marae receive a copy of regional and national reports developed from this project?
    Marae will receive copies of relevant regional reports, and the final national report produced from this project.
     
16. How can Te Puni Kōkiri support marae development initiatives?
    Te Puni Kōkiri can provide facilitation and brokerage support for marae to access resources available from private and public sector agencies and groups; or through the Te Puni Kōkiri Maori Potential Fund. Support may also be provided through other Te Puni Kōkiri regional marae development initiatives or programmes.

Last modified: 10/12/2009