Mareikura Waka Ama, Hawaikinui Waka Centre
Anzac Park, Tairāwhiti/Gisborne is the home base of Mareikura Waka Ama Club. The Club is proposing to build a storage facility at the Park to house their waka, which have lain outside exposed to the elements for more than 20 years. This is proving costly for the club in terms of deteriorating assets and also exposes the expensive waka to vandalism.
The storage facility is the first stage of a much greater vision, which is to establish the Hawaikinui Centre at the Park to support the resurgence of traditional Polynesian navigational methodologies through teaching traditional sailing skills and techniques for outrigger sailing, waka surfing, surf lifesaving and other inclusive water sports. The Hawaikinui Centre will be a multi-purpose space which can accommodate hui and learning and be a hub for the local community, which finds itself challenged in many areas of demographics and health statistics.
This project is focused on whānau transformation through traditional voyaging matauranga. People of all ages engage in the sport of waka ama, paddling together as family and community. The project aspires to the collective success of waka ama whānau and community. It will encourage cultural identity through heritage and tradition, social wellbeing through participation and recreation and potentially environmental and economic benefits will also be realised in the long term.
Mareikura Waka Ama contracted Giblin Group to develop a Feasibility Study on the project which will support funding applications. The Feasibility Study included a high-level funding strategy for obtaining the funds required to build the storage facility, which is literally the foundation for the greater project vision of the Hawaikinui Centre.
Stakeholder engagement as part of the study revealed significant support for the project, an eagerness to reconnect with the waterways of Tairāwhiti through the development of sailing skills, reconnect with culture and heritage through the telling of navigational stories and re-establishing the sustainable practices practiced in the past.
Since 2011 I have worked with Jenni and Christine on a number of highly successful fundraising initiatives in support of the Sarjeant Gallery Redevelopment Project. With their help and expertise, we have raised more than $28.8m from central government and Lottery sources. The Giblin Group are a pleasure to work with and have provided great advice on many occasions concerning communications and public engagement. I can certainly recommend their services.
Giblin Group supported Blue Oyster with developing a robust Funding Strategy that took into account the specific needs of our organisation and activity. Jenni and Jess offered substantial advice and support in, not only establishing this strategy but giving us helpful tools for implementation and always prioritised sustainability throughout. Their enthusiasm for our space and activity was truly felt and appreciated – our relationship with them will be nourished and valued well into the future.
“As our thinking evolved, Giblin Group showed a steady commitment to deepen their understanding of our needs. We always looked forward to our coaching sessions which were stimulating and inspiring. Jess and Jenni became valued colleagues that supported and provoked thinking with rigour and generosity. They’re now not only valuable advocates for BATS but part of our whānau.”
“Jenni did a fantastic job in helping us to secure critical partnerships and funding support for our internationally significant Len Lye Centre project – what’s more we really enjoyed working with her.”
“Giblin Group’s knowledge of government practices and procedures on a national and local level is invaluable, and I often find that they are well connected with staff and officials on all levels of Government. Giblin Group scopes their assignments well, provides accurate cost estimates for their services, delivers within the agreed timeframes and always deliver excellent quality work – no project manager can really ask for more!”
“The work that the Giblin Group completed, in collaboration with our staff, was instrumental in the success the project has had in securing significant funding to this key City initiative. In particular we have found the experience of the Giblin Group to been invaluable in seeking funding from a variety of sources in an increasingly challenging environment.”