Fire guts wharenui at Hamilton marae with Catholic links

The interior of the meeting house, named Tū Waerae, at Hui Te Rangiora Marae in Clarence Street was gutted by the fire overnight on March 15-16. All the tukutuku panels and the photos inside were destroyed. But the porch and some carvings survived, the latter because of metal framing.

Police are actively investigating the cause, with an electrical fault being a possibility. The blaze was one of three big fires in the Waikato area at that time, with at least two being eyed with suspicion by Police.

The alarm was raised at 12.49am on Sunday, with nine fire engines and numerous firefighters going to the marae. They spent three hours and 34 minutes extinguishing the blaze, which was “well-involved” when they arrived.

The marae was originally associated with the Catholic Church. While it still is, it is open to everybody who needs a marae, said deputy chairperson of the marae committee Jack Keogh. The marae was built in the 1960s and was opened in 1966 on behalf of the Māori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu by Hepi Te Heuheu.

Hui Te Rangiora Marae was suggested as the name by the Queen in memory of a very sacred pre-Pakeha marae in the Waikato. The building was blessed by Bishop Reginald Delargey. The wharenui was opened by Dame Te Atairangikaahu in 1974.

A post on the Hamilton Diocese Facebook page on March 17 stated that a scheduled Miha Māori will now have a change of venue due to the fire.

“Miha Māori-Māori Mass, with Pīhopa (Bishop) Richard Laurenson, 23 March 2025, 11am at St Matthew’s, 60 Silverdale Rd, Hillcrest, Hamilton. Please come to support the Hui Te Rangiora whanau.”

Mr Keogh said that the marae community was in shock at the damage caused by the fire. Many whānau and locals have come to the marae since the fire to grieve, he said.

Mr Keogh said the immediate job of the marae committee was to support those who are feeling the loss of the wharenui, then work out what the next steps are.

Marae chairman Fred Dargaville expressed determination in the face of adversity. “This is an opportunity for us to rebuild and emerge stronger,” he said.

FULL STORY

Weekend blaze guts wharenui, devastating Hamilton’s Hui Te Rangiora Marae community | Waikato Times (By Mike Mather/Waikato Times – subscription required)

Community in shock after suspicious fire at Hamilton marae | RNZ News (Radio New Zealand)

Fire Damages Hamilton Marae, Rebuild Planned – Waatea News: Māori Radio Station (Waatea News)

Papers Past | Magazines and Journals | Te Ao Hou | March 1967 | Hui Te Rangiora Marae (Papers Past/National Library)

Facebook Catholic Diocese of Hamilton/Facebook