Otawhiwhi is one of the last maraes, which, despite its run-down and neglected appearance, still occupies one of the choicest seaside holiday spots in the Tauranga Harbour. A place where the peaceful harbour waters virtually lap against the front step, where one gathers mataitai in abundance, and the fish are virtually begging someone to hold out a pan, is a rarity in this time and place. For some summers now, families have quietly gone to Otawhiwhi, pitched their tents and relaxed in the sun, while their children sported safely in the cool clear water nearby. Perhaps these were the first stirrings of the slumbering spirit of Tauwhao. People began to talk about the marae so a general meeting was called.58
‘Te Papaunahi’ reports that on 26 September 1976 a hui had been held to discuss the future requirements of the marae. It was decided that the entire marae needed work. A three stage project was devised to provide an ablution block, dining hall (Tauwhao), and meeting house (Tamaoho). At this hui a steering committee was elected to find out the legal status of the marae reserve and its accessway, and to identify Tauwhao hapu connections.
In October 1976 a second meeting was held where it was reported by the steering committee that the block was listed only as a meeting house site. This meant that an application would have to be made to have the marae and urupa declared Maori reservations. This was done by March 1977, when it was declared that Katikati 1B1 was set aside as a Maori reservation for the purpose of an urupa, and section 1A was set aside as a marae, recreation ground and Maori cultural centre for the common use and benefit of Ngai Tauwhao.59
On New Year’s day 1980 a hui was held to discuss the marae and its future. At this hui a scroll was displayed which identified the descendants of Tauwhao. The future of the marae looked promising, particularly as the ‘approaches to the County Council about the access to the marae had been well received.’ The steering committee had been told by the council that:
legal access was along the waterfront, but because this would be costly to build and maintain, discussion revolved around an access from Seaforth Road. This matter is now before the County Council’s Planning Committee. At the meeting, April 24th, it was reported that gazetting was completed, so the nominated Trustees could now be lodged with the Court for approval.60
The last general meeting was held at the Moana Community Centre in Tauranga. A sizeable crowd gathered to support the marae’s initiatives. This good turnout was credited, in part, to an article in the Bay of Plenty Times on 2 June 1977, which had a photograph of a decrepit looking meeting house and a story about plans to raise funds to rebuild and restore the marae.
Throughout the 1970s plans for the marae’s future began with the marae embarking on a long fundraising campaign. From 1977 to 1979 the marae also made applications to the Department of Maori Affairs for marae subsidies for planting trees and shelter belts so that kumara and maize could be produced on adjoining blocks. These
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