Project Review: Owae Marae 

HEL Rimu Electrical are proud to have delivered the full electrical installation for the Owae Marae Wharekai redevelopment. It was a privilege for our team to contribute to a project of such cultural and community significance, and we approached the work with great care and respect for the site’s heritage and future role.

Our scope included new network power supply from the road, full electrical reticulation to the Wharekai, and power upgrades to the Wharenui and Whare Moi. The installation featured general power and lighting as well as specialist decorative lighting to enhance the architectural and cultural elements throughout the building.

In addition, HEL Rimu designed and installed a solar power and battery storage system on the Wharekai roof. This provides resilience for essential services in the event of power outages and reflects the marae’s forward-thinking approach to sustainability and reliability.

The new 530m² facility replaces the original 1921 Ko Tamawāhine building, providing dining and commercial kitchen facilities to support large gatherings and the long-term needs of the marae. We are extremely proud to have been part of this major community milestone.