New Zealand's Maori built heritage is an important taonga to preserve for the future.  The NZHPT actively assists whanau, hapu and iwi initiatives to preserve taonga through the Maori Buildings Conservation Programme.  Wharenui, wharekai, whare karakia pataka, waka  and other forms of built heritage are unique taonga in their construction and artwork expression.

Caring for these taonga is a challenge requiring specialist knowledge in both traditional and modern  preservation techniques.  Contact the NZHPT or ask advice from one of our regional pouarahi staff located in NZHPT offices in Kerikeri, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.

Funding support

The Lottery Grants Board has a Marae Heritage and Facilities Fund which provides grants for the capital costs of the conservation, and restoration of marae facilities, including wharenui, wharekai, wharekarakia, urupa, pataka, and whare taonga. The Lottery Grants Board provides the grants and Waka Taonga, the Maori Heritage team provides the support and advice to applicants.

Grants are also available for the initial feasibility studies and conservation reports, as well as the the capital costs involved in the conservation and restoration of marae facilities. Examples of such projects include pouhenua memorials and flagpoles, marae shelters for tangata whenua or manuhiri, waka shelters, and the conservation of tukutuku, kowhaiwhai, whariki and whakairo, and restoration of photographs which are within the marae.

The Marae Heritage and Facilities Committee meets three times a year, in March, June and October. Applications are due four months before each meeting, although more rapid approval for funding conservation plans ands feasibility studies is under consideration.

The NZHPT’s Maori Heritage Advisers are available to advise and assist iwi and hapu in making or supporting applications to the committee and arranging technical advice.

He mahi tenei o te ropu ‘Waka Taonga’ hei tautoko nga Komiti Marae me nga Kaitiaki Marae.

The Lottery Grants Board also has a separate fund for Environment and Heritage which can provide financial assistance for the preservation and protection of whare taonga and wahi tapu, and for historical publications. Contact your local Maori Heritage Adviser through the NZHPT's offices in Kerikeri, Auckland,Tauranga and Wellington for more details.

National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund

The National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund, administered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, provides financial incentives to encourage the conservation of nationally significant heritage places in private ownership. Priority is given to heritage places of national significance which need conservation work and heritage places of national significance where conservation work is planned and could be improved through extra funding. Public sector agencies, teeritorial authorities, and persons and agencies eligible for funding from the Lottery Grants Board are not eligible to apply to the Fund.

Any property in private ownership that is either registered as a Category I historic place under the Historic Places Act, or could satisfy the requirements for Category I registration, is eligible to apply to the fund.

Any wahi tapu or wahi tapu area in private ownership that is either registered under the Historic Places Act, or could satisfy the requirements for wahi tapu or wahi tapu area registration, is eligible to apply to the fund.

Please contact your nearest NZHPT office for advice.

Taumata tirohanga: whai orangangia nga taonga tuku iho.

Na te Kaunihera Maori o te Pouhere Taonga.