The Government has committed up to $8.6 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to complete the construction of Ngāmotu Marae at Moturoa.
The investment means the city will see its first urban marae in nearly two centuries built in a single sweep rather than in piecemeal stages.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the grant during Te Rā Whakamaumahara Ō Tā Māui Pōmare at Ōwae Marae in Waitara.
The funding resolves a shortfall for the $17.8 million project.
The Ngāmotu Marae Reservation Trust had raised $9.2 million through its own hapū resources, local government partners, the Toi Foundation, and community supporters.
Because they were short of the total target, the original plan required staging the build, which meant constructing a multi-purpose wharekai first and pausing the wharenui until further funds were secured.
Minister Potaka noted that funding the entire build at once would save the project money by avoiding multiple construction mobilisations.
Ngāmotu Marae Reservation Trust Chair Shelton Healey welcomed the announcement, stating that the community is over the moon, deeply humbled, and grateful for the support.
He noted that the commitment gives the people confidence that a vision carried for generations can now become a reality, while recognising the dedication of trustees, whānau, partners, and supporters.
The complex is being built on hapū-owned land at 1 Bayly Road, adjacent to Ngāmotu Beach and Port Taranaki.
The location carries deep historical importance, sitting alongside Waitapu Urupā and within a few hundred metres of Ōtaka Pā, a renowned settlement destroyed in the late 1880s.
The surrounding foreshore area encompasses several significant features, including Paritutu Rock, the islands of Moturoa, and the Hongihongi and Waitapu streams.
Submissions to regional and local bodies to establish a marae on this specific foreshore site date back as far as the early 1900s.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones pointed out that New Plymouth has been without a central marae for more than 150 years.
Jones said the development will give Ngāti Te Whiti a long-overdue home in their own rohe, while opening the doors to the wider community for hui, events, education, and support during emergencies.
He stated that the investment restores a critical anchor that is accessible and firmly part of the city’s future.
Initial civil and infrastructure works began at the Bayly Road site in February, with Clelands Construction erecting security fencing and managing early groundworks.
These foundational works cover earthworks, landscaping, car parking and essential utility connections for power and water.
The new funding injection allows contractors to seamlessly transition into building the primary structures.
Once fully completed, the facility will feature a wharenui capable of sleeping 80 people, a wharekai designed to cater to a meal sitting of 100 people, an ātea, community meeting rooms, and administrative spaces.
Beyond its cultural role, the marae will serve as a vital piece of civic infrastructure. Designers have planned the wharekai to meet Importance Level 4 (IL4) structural standards, ensuring it can operate as an after-disaster facility.
Minister Potaka emphasised this civic resilience, stating that in an emergency, marae provide practical support to their communities.
He said that the facility will be ready to provide shelter, support and stability when New Plymouth needs it most.
He also explained that a visible, active marae next to the public coastal walkway will create cultural, social, and economic energy through the community.
Local political and hapū leaders believe the hub will create wide-ranging opportunities for the district.
Shelton Healey, representing the Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū Society Inc, described the project as a living cultural centre where past, present, and future come together.
Healey said it will provide the space to pass down knowledge and traditions while creating opportunities for tourism and education that benefit the whole city.
New Plymouth MP David McLeod echoed those sentiments, stressing that the space is designed for all residents.
McLeod stated that Ngāmotu Marae is not just for Ngāti Te Whiti, but for the entire community.
He called it a place of welcome where all people can come to experience the culture, share in stories, and build a deeper connection with the land and its history.
The project is being delivered by the Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Tōpu Trust and will support roughly 46 jobs during its construction phase.
The New Plymouth District Council has backed the development by including Ngāmotu Marae in its Long-Term Plan.
In the long term, the facility is expected to host international tourists, support local commercial enterprises and run educational programmes focusing on the history of Ngāmotu.
