The community renovation and landscaping show that makes a real difference – MARAE DIY – rewards more deserving iwi with a much-needed makeover when it premieres on Māori Television on Wednesday August 29 at 8.30 PM.

This is the fourth series of the popular DIY show but there are many firsts for this series and a new addition to the team. A South Island marae comes in for a top-to-toe renovation and the team tackles their first pan-tribal urban marae.

MARAE DIY producer and presenter Nevak ‘Ilolahia is joined once again by co-host Te Ori Paki and resident landscape designer David Clayton-Green. The new member of the line-up is builder Monty Ritai.

It’s a yearly struggle for hapū to try and find the funds necessary to renovate or repair their marae. So the arrival of the MARAE DIY team really is a wish come true.

As in previous series, it is not just the landscape that gets a bit of beautifying. The team also whisks away a group of kuia to receive their own make-over before returning to the marae to see all the work their whānau have done in just four days.

Each of the seven, one-hour bilingual programmes combine a mix of tribal history, a glimpse at local traditional practices – including weaving and kai gathering – and, of course, lots of laughter.

Six marae receive the team’s special makeover magic – with the clock and weather against them at every turn. During series four, MARAE DIY visits the following marae:

Waipapa Marae, Kawhia – Wednesday August 29 at 8.30 PM: MARAE DIY has been called in to help the hapū sort out their parking dilemma – the paddock next door is a mud-bath in the winter. Not only are the DIY team putting in a new carpark and overhauling the entire marae ātea, but they’re also taking on the challenge of fundraising enough pūtea to put in a new BBQ area and playground for the tamariki while they are there.

Tarimano Marae, Rotorua – Wednesday September 5 at 8.30 PM: The hapū of Ngāti Rangiwewehi set the bar high and a record number of more than 350 people turn out for the most comprehensive DIY yet. Every part of the marae complex gets a spruce up – the church, wharenui, dining room, kitchen and toilets … even the awa gets a makeover!

Omaha Marae, Leigh – Wednesday September 12 at 8.30 PM: A total transformation is the aim for this marae – from the waharoa in the front to the kitchen out the back. The work is being done to coincide with the unveiling of new carvings for the wharenui which has been a 10-year project for the hapū.

Toroanui Marae, Parihaka, Taranaki – Wednesday September 19 at 8.30 PM: Restoring their much-loved whare tūpuna and building new ablutions for the kaumātua has been a dream for the whānau from Toroanui for many years. With the help of the tenacious DIY team and some last-minute support from local businesses, the people of Parihaka work hard to realise their dreams – all in just four days.

Otakou Marae, Dunedin – Wednesday September 26 at 8.30 PM: The first visit by MARAE DIY to the South Island proves to be a challenge in more ways than one. The team face gale force winds, snow, hail and rain along with some of the toughest terrain yet to redesign ‘the steepest marae ātea in the country’ and create a special memorial garden in the hectares of land surrounding the marae.

Manurewa Marae, South Auckland – Wednesday October 3 at 8.30 PM: The community of Manurewa ignores the rain and turn out in their masses to take on the mammoth task of renovating and landscaping the largest marae complex the MARAE DIY team has ever seen. But with unexpected delays and time against them, have the pan-tribal marae bitten off more than they can chew?

The series ends on Wednesday October 10 at 8.30 PM with a special episode that takes a look behind the scenes of a programme that has helped transformed more than 30 marae communities around the country. MARAE DIY also catches up with some of the marae that have received makeovers in previous years to see how the DIY momentum continued after the cameras stopped rolling.

Join the team for more heart-warming makeovers when MARAE DIY premieres on Māori Television on Wednesday August 29 at 8.30 PM.