New kitchen for Pataka Kai

By Frank Neill

A new kitchen is being built in the car park at the front of Wainuiomata’s Pataka Kai.

The new kitchen will be a place where wh nau can learn to cook, as well as producing meals for kaumatua and those living without access to cooking facilities.

There are a number of wh nau who don’t have a place where they can cook – especially those in motels, says Teresea Olsen of Kökiri Marae.

“Some motels don’t have any cooking facilities at all and there are families living there,” Ms Olsen says.

“And there are some families that don’t know how to cook.”

The kitchen will also be available to hungry people walking past who can call in for some kai, she says.

The new kitchen is being put together by three local builders