PROGRESS AT PIPIWAI

A new recreation centre and cook house are being built by voluntary labour at Pipiwai, the leader of the working part being Mr Hoani Henare. The carved house, the only marae building at present, is regarded as sacred and the previous practice of using it for dances and concerts will therefore stop.

The new building is part of a rapid social and spiritual development of the area. Among important recent changes there has been the recent connection to power and the telephone. A daily workers' bus has been introduced and loans have been granted by the Department of Maori Affairs to improve housing conditions.