Te Puni Kōkiri supported the employment of a project manager and the training of carvers and the opening of Wheke – Whare Tipuna - at Rapaki in November 2010. The new carved house replaces a simpler, European-style hall that served the marae for 107 years. The carvers, led by Master Carver Riki Manuel, and weavers, led by Rāpaki’s master weaver Reihana (Doe) Parata, reconnected the rünanga with its history and ancestors. Rāpaki Marae Development Board chairman and Rāpaki Marae trustee Tutehounuku Korako believes that the whare whakairo has become a focal point for all things Māori in the Lyttleton Harbour area. He said: “Wheke is fully booked right through to the end of April by a variety of groups and organisations, we are hosting Italian and Argentinean Rugby World Cup supporter groups. We’ve spent 10 years working toward this, our whare by the sea. Te Puni Kōkiri’s support has been huge.”