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. “We understand that the building is planned to be removed this weekend which will allow the sale to proceed.” When a tender for the buildings fell through in late 2010 the WDC decided to put the hall on Trade Me. At that time the council said they would have to pay $10,000 to demolish the hall if it did not sell. Joe Barton, one of the Taupiri Marae team preparing to move the building, joked that they offered 25c, but in the end decided they could stretch their offer to $1. Taupiri Marae chairman Boxer George said the ticket price was just a tiny part of the total cost of moving and renovating the building, which was destined to be the marae’s new wharenui. The total cost of the project was estimated at $278,000. http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/6293648/Iwi-snaps-up-buildings-for-1