Community Waikato recognizes that Marae are a key feature of the cultural infrastructure within Maaori society. We see that they act as guardians of maatauranga (knowledge) and taonga (precious heirlooms) and connecting whaanau through whakapapa (family connections). We understand that marae are held as sacred to the living, and a memorial to the departed. They serve as the custodian of traditional knowledge and of the whakapapa that connects its members. More importantly, they are considered the foundation upon which Maaori preserve and strengthen their identity.
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