Te Unga Waka Māori Catholic Centre.

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Reference
41066
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Reference
41066
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
Duration
00:00:00
Taonga Māori Collection
Yes
Credits
RNZ Collection
Cooper, Whina, 1895-1994
Enckevort, Matt van

Mrs Whina Cooper,(who later became Dame Whina Cooper), Father Van Enckevort and Father Hēnare Tait are interviewed regarding the proposed site for the new Māori Catholic Community Centre in Auckland.

Father Van Enckevort gives a brief outline on the proposed centre of 15,000 square feet. Included is a spacious courtyard, foyer, ablution block, chapel, a room for children's activities, large dining room seating five hundred people, a stage, large kitchen. cafeteria. and a caretakers flat. This will complete stage one.

The second stage and second floor will contain an office, lobby, two committee rooms, one of which will be facing the main hall. Father Van Enckevort says his Māori name is Pa Matiu. He says that financially it has been quite a struggle, the organising committee has raised fourty four thousand pounds so far, of which they have already spent twenty two thousand pounds.

Mrs Whina Cooper is the president of the Auckland Māori Catholic Society, supports the project and says that the centre will be a useful place for the youngsters who leave their homes and venture into the city. It will be a place where not only Māori can come but Europeans as well. It can be used for a variety of fuctions as well as a place of learning.

The complex is to be named "TE UNGA WAKA " - "THE LANDING OF ALL THE CANOES"

Father Tait says his role will be to foster religion and Maoritanga especially to the young, and to guide them into becoming good sports people in order to stop them from getting into trouble. He also assisted in many of the fundraising events.