Taupiri Marae Grabs a Bargain

Iwi snaps up buildings for $1 A gold coin does not usually buy much these days, but the iwi of a Waikato marae have snaffled a bargain, getting two buildings for just $1. Taupiri Marae iwi paid $1 to buy the Tamahere Hall and toilet block after the Waikato District Council had to sell the buildings in order for the land the buildings were sitting on – within Tamahere Model School’s boundaries – to be sold back to the Education Ministry. Education Ministry general manager property Kim Shannon said the ministry was purchasing the land the hall was sitting on, but the building was not up to ministry standards.