NEWS RELEASE
from Hutt City Council

1 October 2001

MARAE & COMMUNITY FUNDING DECISIONS

Hutt City Council's Community Grants Committee met recently with representatives of Hutt City's eight Marae and Maori organisations, to allocate funding set aside in the Annual Plan for assisting Marae and Maori organisations with the delivery of Community Development services in Hutt City.

$60,000 has been allocated for Marae and Maori organisations in 2001/2002, a 100 per cent increase on last year's funding.

Hutt City Council is the only local authority to provide funding in this way to Marae in the city.

"I think that in the past we have tended to overlook the fact that Marae and Maori networks are a vital community asset. Council is committed to supporting them in their work. We are very happy to assist in a modest way with what is a purely voluntary service," Mayor John Terris said.

"The funding of Marae in Hutt City is a positive step in building strong communities."

The services offered by the city's Marae and Maori organisations to the community include training, holiday programmes for tamariki (young people), health services, employment initiatives and cultural services.

Marae representatives conveyed, on behalf of their respective organisations, their grateful thanks to the HCC for the grants each received.

In addition to funding for Maori organisations, the Committee allocated funding for the provision of community development services from Community Houses/Centres in Hutt City. Alicetown Community House received $23,000; Kelson $7,400; Moera $25,000; Petone $5,000; Stokes Valley $19,500; Wainuiomata Community House $20,000 and the Wainuiomata Community Resource Centre $22,100. $25,000 was set aside for the Pomare Community House.

ENDS For further information please contact: Name: Caroline O'Loan Position: Community Funding Officer Hutt City Council DDI: 04-570 6527 Fax: 04-569 1128 Email: Caroline.O'Loan@huttcity.govt.nz

Website: http://www.huttcity.govt.nz

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