The Story of the Birth of Ngati Hikitanga Incorporated
And The Purchase of the Building Known Today as

TE WHARE O TE PAEA

On July 7th 2005 Mr Rex Field and I were driving past the building known as Vintage Car Club Rooms, when Mr Field made a remark that building is for sale. Why don’t you try to buy it? I stated “what with?” We could not afford it. On the way home I gave some thought to Rex’s remark, I decided to drive back to look at the building on Tuesday 9th July 2005 with Helen Benfell. We liked what we saw and we spoke to a lady who was on the property and she gave me details of who to contact.

 I rang Mr Fred Foothead who was working as a land Agent for Wrightsons in Levin. Fred was also a member of the Vintage Car Club who owned the premises at that time. We arranged to meet at the Vintage Car Club Rooms on July 14th 2005. I contacted several Members of Hikitanga Te Paea to whom we had all registered in 2001.

 10 Adults and 2 children were present on the 14th of July. Mr Fred Foothead showed us through and gave us a verbal history. He left us for awhile to speak with each other. We decided to write down a figure of money we thought we could afford. The average amount was $100,000 and we decided to make an offer up to that figure. That night Rex rang Fred and asked what is your lowest amount you will accept and Fred said $100.000.
Rex, Fred and I agreed that $100,000 would be the purchase price on condition that the finance could be raised.

July 16th I rang internal affairs who put me in touch with Marae Heritage Grants Office in Wellington. I spoke to Louise Bruis who told me that they had never to her knowledge made a grant to a person or group who had no land to put a building on or no building to be put on land. But Louise said there is always a first time and would forward the application form. I rang Eastern Central trust Grants office to obtain an application form from them to get finance that would bridge the gap towards $102,000 allowing $2,000 for disbursements. Unfortunately we eventually added a further $1,800 to cover hidden and rising costs.

When the grant applications arrived it was clear that we had to become a Member of the Incorporated Society. I then rang the Economic Development Office who put me through to a Mr Harris in Auckland; he forwarded me an application form. I filled it out and signed it at Marton Courthouse and sent my $100 cheque with the application on August 15th 2005. On the 17th August 2005 I received by courier a certificate with our Incorporated Society Number.

I went to the Marton Printery and ordered the official seal (stamp) and pad that cost about $40 which I paid. I was pleased things were starting to happen. I say at this point I was paying for everything: phone calls,  application frees, postage, fuel cost and courier costs. I had to travel to Paraparaumu to get a signature from Mr BR Morgan Tumuaki / chairman who was in conjunction with me. I made three trips and forwarded by courier once to him. This was necessary due to the short time frame in which things had to be done.

My next step was to go to the Westpac at Marton and borrow $6,000 to deposit at the ANZ into our purchase account. It eventually cost Rex and I close to $6,750. We encouraged others to come forward with money, but not a lot did. Many we know did not think we would achieve the result we did. On August 26th 2005 the Application was finished, I drove  to Palmerston North Internal Affairs to hand in my Marae Heritage Application, I was accompanied by Helen Benfell and Donelle Herbison. The 26th August was the deadline for the application. I asked for a receipt which would later show they had received it at 12noon 26th August 2005. This would entitle our application to be heard on November 18th 2005 by the Marae heritage Committee in Wellington.

I completed my Eastern Central Application and forwarded that through to Mr Peter Martin of Eastern Central Trust Hastings. I had also applied for tax exemption which was a requirement of both Grants.  I dealt with Mrs Norma Galley of the IRD who stated that it usually took at least 6 to 8 weeks. But she approved it in less than 3 weeks. Speaking to me on the phone she stated what a wonderful history your people have, and how well Rex and I had presented it. That gave me heart to carry on.

Next I received a phone call from Terei Koopu of the Marae Heritage office Lower Hutt, who told me he had been assigned to me and my application. From then forward I was in regular contact with Terei Koopu and Peter Martins’ secretary of Eastern Central Trust Hastings.

At one stage I was sent a letter saying that the Eastern Central Trust did not think our whanau had contributed enough. I wrote and explanation letter advising the Trust that many of our members were elderly and on pensions. We also had a great number of young under 18 years old, others were senior students not earning. The trust accepted my explanation, though I must say there were many others who could have contributed but did not. 
 I would like now to applaud those that are of and were of Ngati Hikitanga Te Paea according to our registration list from 2001 – 2005.


 

Ngati Hikitanga Te Paea Members

 

Rex field & Margaret Morgan-Allen	6750
Ivan and Jocelyn Morgan	1000
Anthony G Ireland	800	Labour was an Application requirement
Mark H G Allen	350
B R Morgan	150
Mavis E Whiley	150
D R Morgan	130
Dr Chad Esaiah	100
Zoe Tait	100
Anthony Ireland	50
Stephen J Ireland	50
Donelle Herbison	50
Tura Perawiti	50
Sharon Morgan	50
Tracey Stevenson	50
Janice Williams	50
Jason Graham	50
Helen Benfell	30
	9960

 

Rangiuira Kipihana trust

 

Rangiuira Kipihana trust

400

 

Ngati Hikitanga Members (Previously Ngati Hikitanga Te paea)

 

Daryl and Darlene Morgan	500
Brian & Avis Anyon	200
Henry and Bette Parr	200
Phillis Parr	100
Ray Parr	100
Eric Vaughan	100
Noeline Blenkhorn	100
Bill and Jan Bishop	100
	1400

 

TOTALS

           

Marae Heritage	68000
Eastern Central Trust	17500
Vintage Car Club	5000
Helen Benfell	2000
Hikitanga Te Paea	9960
Rangiuira Kipihana Trust	400
NgatI Hikitanga	1400
	104260

On November 18th 2005, our application was successful in being granted $68,000 - what a thrill to be the first people to be granted a Marae Heritage grant, not owning anything since our loss in the 1800’s. But we still needed $24,500 from Eastern Central Trust to be granted on November 23rd 2005. I rang the Trust office on November 24th and was told we were successful to the amount of  $17,500. I was very pleased but we were still $7,000 short. I contacted Fred Foothead he said he’d speak to the Vintage Car Club committee. He rang back to say they would loan $5000 at 6% sliding scale for 12 months, we accepted and it was paid  back in the 12 months. A further $2,000 was lent to us by my friend Helen Benfell. This loan was fixed at 9% which we accepted. This was paid back in 27 months.

We obtained the Whare and named it Te Whare O Te Paea. This was a name suggested at a meeting in 2002 at the Ohau Rugby Domain. The purpose of obtaining the Whare was to give shelter to us and others of the community until we could purchase or build one on our own ancestral land. The Whare stands on Crown land, which we lease.
 
Most of the furnishing and contents belong to either the Gwyn Morgan Whanau or the Rangiuira Kipihana Trust and are on loan to Ngati Hikitanga Incorporated.

Unfortunately there are some who want to ride on the mana and mahi of those who contributed heavily to obtaining the Whare, and keeping it going for the first 2 years through extra financing until it could stand alone.