The Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson and Northcote MP Shanan Halbert have met with managers of a North Shore community marae.
It comes after multiple attempts to resolve the long-running tug-of-war over Awataha Marae failed.
Members of the community have complained about Awataha being a closed shop and question why tangihanga aren't being hosted at the marae.
Awataha, which flanks Auckland's northern motorway, was set up in the mid-1980s as a pan-tribal, multicultural marae for the community of Te Raki Paewhenua (North Shore).
While the marae was built with community donations and grants, the land is owned by Land Information NZ (LINZ).
In 2020, LINZ renewed the lease for a further 33 years, disappointing a community group that had attempted to raise concerns with the commissioner and halt the renewal.
The group, which includes founding members of Awataha, raised several allegations with the Land Commissioner, including the marae management's refusal to hold tangihanga in the wharenui.
Awataha Marae management said it's an issue of tikanga Māori - because there are no carvings on the wharenui, it can't be used for tangihanga. Mere Roberts, a former marae trustee, believes it's because tangihanga sometimes interrupt other marae activities.
Roberts said she helped raise $1.7 million for the marae in the 1980s, including setting up a regular tithe for the project. During the early 2000s, she was an Awataha trustee but left frustrated when she claims the direction of the marae changed.
For locals, it's meant holding tangi in garages and tents.
Another former Awataha trust board member, Andy Peters, also expressed disappointment at the tangi situation, asking what the hold-up was.
He told The Hui the way he was raised, marae were for the community for everyone's use.
For the past six weeks, The Hui has been liaising with Awataha Marae's chairperson Maria Amoamo in the hope of discussing these issues.
But hours before our interview was to take place, Amoamo sent an email expressing concerns about the story and asked The Hui not to enter the property.
The LINZ decision is now being reviewed.
Jackson and local MP Halbert have asked marae management for a community plan. They will also meet with other stakeholders in the community.
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the Public Interest Journalism Fund.
