In a highly unusual move, a Wellington man may be buried on a marae that he built himself.
Bruce Stewart's whanau are waiting to hear whether the Minister of Health will approve the man's request to be laid to rest on the private land.
Made by former prisoners, gang members and the homeless with timber collected from the streets, Tapu Te Ranga Marae is Mr Stewart's legacy.
"He has a mantra that he lives by which is he who builds the house is built by the house," says family spokesperson Gabriel Tupou.
While in jail as a young man, Mr Stewart reconnected with his culture. Once out, he made it his mission to help others do the same.
In the 1970s he built the Marae at Island Bay and went on to house and educate many less fortunate.
"Simply putting a roof over the homeless is a big deal. We're seeing that today in our metro cities, so he was advanced even back then," says deputy mayor Paul Eagle.
Mr Stewart died this week, aged 80, after suffering a stroke. He wanted to be buried on the land he loved.
There is no urupa at the marae, so whanau have asked the Ministry of Health to allow a burial under special circumstances, citing Stewart's contribution to the community.
"He always said, 'This is my marae, this is my kindergarten right through to my university, this is my church, this is where I was born and this is where I will die'," says Ms Tupou.
Whanau and friends have been arriving at the marae throughout the day on Thursday and officials are also checking the suitability of the burial site.
There are a number of stages for approval. The council goes to the Health Board, then the Health Board goes to the Ministry Of Health, but the final decision lays with the minister.
Mr Stewart was also an activist, playwright and gospel singer.
His tangi will be held on Sunday - with the decision on where he will be buried yet to be made.
Newshub.
