A Marae for Our City

This is a city-wide initiative with deep cultural roots and broad community benefit.

Ngāmotu Marae will:

  • Be a welcoming cultural hub for all who live, work, play and visit New Plymouth
  • Provide spaces for meetings, conferences, celebrations, education, events and workshops
  • Teach and share the rich history of Ngāmotu New Plymouth and its people
  • Strengthen cultural identity and wellbeing in the heart of our city
  • Contribute to economic and tourism growth for Taranaki
  • Offer a safe haven in times of need

The marae is designed with community at its core and will include:

  • Wharenui – sleeping up to 80 people
  • Wharekai – catering for up to 100
  • Atea and gathering spaces
  • Administration and support facilities
  • Accessible, inclusive design throughout
  • Achieve innovative and environmentally sustainable building principles.

What’s happening now:

Major milestones recently reached:

  • Mauri laid: In December 2025 hapū gathered to place the mauri in the whenua. This culturally significant ceremony places a stone within the whenua beneath the future location of the Poutuarongo, the central post that will one day stand at the heart of the wharenui, anchoring the project vision and marking an important cultural milestone.
  • Stage 1 underway: Contracts have been signed and civil and infrastructure works are beginning – the foundation for the marae is now being built.

This project is moving forward. The mahi ahead will create the backbone of the marae site and set the stage for future buildings and community spaces.

Join us
Ngāmotu Marae is being built with and for our whole community.
For more details about the project, including background information, FAQS and the latest updates – please click here.

We’ve reached more than half the target in fundraising, and continue to reach out across the community actively promoting public engagement and encouraging contributions to ensure the complete realisation of this project. Thank you to all our partners and supporters.

Ngāmotu Marae is a key part of our community’s future, for New Plymouth, and Taranaki.