Kia ora Wayfarer team,
I would like to propose the addition of a dedicated “Marae” category within the Niantic Wayfarer waypoint classification system.
Why “Marae” Deserve Their Own Category:
Marae are central to Māori culture and identity here in Aotearoa (New Zealand). They are more than just buildings — they are living hubs of community, culture, language, and intergenerational connection. Marae often serve as:
- Centres for community gathering and decision-making
- Venues for education, storytelling, and cultural preservation
- Spaces for ceremonies, tangihanga (funerals), and celebrations
- Locations where Tikanga Māori (customary practices) are upheld
These locations align strongly with Niantic’s core values of exploration, social connection, and real-world cultural engagement. Many Marae already exist in the database as Waypoints under broad categories like “Cultural Building” or “Place of Worship,” but this does not accurately reflect their unique role and sacred cultural status.
The Benefits of a Dedicated Category:
Cultural Respect & Representation:* Acknowledges indigenous spaces on their own terms rather than lumping them into generic categories.
- Educational Value: Helps players — especially visitors — learn about the significance of local Māori sites.
- Better Discovery: Improves clarity for reviewers and submitters, reducing rejections or misclassifications.
- Map Diversity: Strengthens the presence of indigenous cultural spaces on the Niantic map, contributing to its global inclusiveness.
This would mirror how Niantic already distinguishes some cultural categories (e.g., “Shrine” in Japan or “Church” globally) and would be a meaningful step toward recognising indigenous cultures worldwide.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and I hope this can be considered for a future category update.
Ngā mihi nui,
FranktonFoe