The public is being invited to the first Whakatane District Council meeting to be held at the newly opened Mataatua Wharenui Te Manuka Tutahi Marae on Muriwai Drive.

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne says the council is privileged to be able to sit in the Mataatua Wharenui for its next meeting, acknowledging the buildings unique history and what it represents for the people of Ngati Awa.

The Mataatua Wharenui Te Manuka Tutahi Marae, on Muriwai Drive in Whakatane.

'Holding our meeting at the Mataatua Wharenui is not only an historic occasion for the council, but it also shows our support for this magnificent facility and what it represents for the tangata whenua and the district as a whole.”

He says the Marae was originally built as a symbol of unity and inspiration for the people of Ngati Awa.

Tony says the meeting on Wednesday will symbolise council's commitment to strengthen its relationship with iwi and all communities in the district to achieve a strong, united and forward looking community.

'We are grateful to Te Runanga o Ngati Awa for making the Wharenui available to us.

'I'm looking forward to the public taking advantage of this opportunity to attend the council meeting and experience this new facility.”

The meeting's agenda includes a presentation on the Rugby World Cup campaigns.

The meeting will also look at the economic development outlook in the Eastern Bay of Plenty in the face of challenges posed by the world economic environment and the PSA bacterial threat to the kiwifruit sector.

The meeting takes place in the marae following a pohiri at 12.45pm on Wednesday November 16.