30 Aug 2011

New location for sinking marae still to be decided

6:12 am on 30 August 2011

The people of Ohaaki marae in the central North Island have still not decided whether to relocate despite the fact that the marae is sinking.

The marae, about 40 kilometres north of Taupo, has sunk by 3.7 metres since 1992.

Spokesperson Aroha Campbell says the cause is the extraction of underground geothermal fluid by a power station owned by Contact Energy.

Contact Energy has agreed to cover the cost of relocating the marae.

Mrs Campbell says members of Ngati Tahu have put off making a decision about moving because they want to know more about the proposed new location off State Highway 5.

She says the iwi now hopes to make a decision in October.