A fine but cold July morning heralded the inaugural one-day Te Arawa Marae Expo at Te Papaiouru at Ohinemutu, Rotorua.

As a step towards their development aspirations, it was an excellent opportunity for marae to network with each other as well as with nine central and local agencies and 39 local retailers.

More than 300 people attended from Rotorua; many from Eastern BOP, Central North Island and as far north as Bay of Islands and as far south as Ashburton throughout the day.

Workshops by central agencies such as Māori Land Court; Department of Internal Affairs; Inland Revenue Department; NZ Historic Places Trust; NZ Fire Service were held throughout the day. There was particular interest in the Charities Commission and funding opportunities through Internal Affairs.

As well as being a member of the Collective Agency Group which spear-headed the Expo, Te Puni Kōkiri Te Arawa Regional Office also purchased an exhibition booth.

Feedback received has been first-rate with demands for more, possibly a 2-day event, consideration for spread throughout Bay of Plenty.