Taunakitia Te Marae: Te Arawa Marae Centres of Excellence

Taunakitia Te Marae aims to research the key contributors of success that will enable marae to be centres of excellence for hapū development. It will explore with whānau, hapū and iwi the characteristics that enable or inhibit the success of marae as centres of excellence; and undertake case studies of successful models for marae that enhance hapū development. Through the research, Taunakitia Te Marae will identify critical determinants of marae wellbeing and construct a marae wellbeing framework to be available for use by marae, hapū and iwi within Te Arawa. The research will also explore three themes identified and tested in earlier scoping work: mana tangata, mana taunga and mana taiao. These themes are directly linked to future aspirations for marae, hapū and iwi within Te Arawa. Earlier scoping work indicated three key areas of focused enquiry: • What is needed to support and enhance future planning for marae, in particular succession processes? • How can hapū and marae enhance and develop opportunities for te reo Māori? • What is needed to create a context and environment within hapū and marae activities that are enabling of rangatahi participation? Taunakitia Te Marae also provides opportunities to generate new knowledge that has the potential to be transferable and therefore other marae, hapū and iwi can utilise elements of the research outcomes as leverage for their own development strategies.