A revamp of the Hastings Civic Square will cost ratepayers just under $1 million.
The refurbishment includes laying new pavers, developed by tribal artists, depicting the diversity of Hastings and paying tribute to the two war memorials.
Ngā Pou o Heretaunga, which stood on the Civic Square lawn, would also return to their respective marae and carvers for repairs and inspection while the work was being done.
Installed in 2012, Ngā Pou o Heretaunga was a unique collection of 18 pou facing their respective marae Heretaunga. One pou from the Cook Islands was also installed in 2015, representing the strong connections between Ngāti Kahungunu and the Takitumu nation.
The $1m of work was intended to be part of a much larger Civic Square revamp, however, Hastings District Council said the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the council’s finances, has limited work to required maintenance only.
Hastings District Council spaces manager Rachel Stuart said the cost for the paving maintenance work would be $645,000.
“It is made up of concrete and paving at $475,000, plus demolition, earthworks, stormwater, electrical, furniture and landscaping.
“The development of the pou area has a budget of $300,000, mostly for paving and concreting work, ($90,000) and electrical ($90,000) along with earthworks, stormwater and landscaping,” Stuart said.
Supporting funds for the renewal of the pou at $2000 each brought the total cost to $981,000.
Stuart said the original paving was increasingly a safety risk, with raised and cracked pavers posing a trip hazard.
The design of the pavers had been developed by tribal artists collective Iwi Toi Kahungunu, advised by Hira Huata who worked on the initial Ngā Pou o Heretaunga project.
Stuart said the budgets were set and approved through the Long Term Plan.
Council principal relationships advisor Charles Ropitini said the pou maintenance sat with marae, each of which owned one of the pou.
“Council, through the Marae Development Fund, is supporting the renewal at $2000 per marae,” Ropitini said.
“This is considered a modest contribution towards the cost, which is anticipated to be in the vicinity of $8000 to $12,000 per pou, depending on the amount of work required, which will differ between pou.
“The work on the pou is directed by the marae committees and other than providing this financial contribution and supporting the logistical movement of the pou the council does not have involvement in their renewal,” he said.
Project manager kaumātua Ngahiwi Tomoana said individual pou have been removed and inspected over years but this would be the first time the entire collection had been away.
The work was expected to take 10 weeks and be ready for the Matariki New Year on June 19.
Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.