The kapa haka group responsible for one of the country’s most recognisable songs has given its clubrooms a much-needed makeover, with the help of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Few people need reminding the hit song Poi E was the work of the Pātea Māori Club.

However, the song was released in 1982 and 35 years later the clubrooms were in a state where they needed some much-needed repair.

Enter the popular television programme Marae DIY and the show’s major sponsor, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Over four days from May 4-7, teams of volunteers - including six from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa - worked to transform the clubrooms.

Kaiārahi Toi Rauangi Kim Marsh –one of the volunteers - says kaimahi have often worked to bring an extra dimension to the makeovers by engaging with marae to include some toi in the project.

“We both refurbished an existing component of the building and added extra art work to enhance the new structure,” Kim says.

“We can’t tell you exactly what we did – or show you either - but if you watch the programme when it airs later in the year, you will see that it was something of significance.  The whānau there were very happy with the contribution to their whare.”

The makeover was the same weekend as Aunty Ma’s tangi and Kim says that made the work extra special.

“It was especially significant for us to be able to honour Taranaki Maunga for Aunty Ma that weekend, and also the legacy of Koro Napi, who was the first tutor at the Pātea Māori Club.”

Alongside Kim, the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa team included tauira Robin Hepi and Kaea Graham, who are both studying towards Maunga Kura Toi in Hastings, kaiako Wi Taepa and Sian Montgomery-Neutze from Porirua and programme developer/resource developer Emma West.