Ngāti Awa Rāhui Lifted

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 28 December 2019

Subject: Ngāti Awa Rāhui Lifted

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa advises that the Ngāti Awa rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) that has been in place since the Whakaari eruption was lifted at 1pm today (28 December 2019).

Following discussions this morning between senior Ngāti Awa kaumatua and cultural experts, the appropriate karakia (prayers) were performed by Ngāti Awa tohunga at 1pm today, lifting the rāhui he placed in the late afternoon following the Whakaari eruption.

Consequently, temporary prohibitions on marine activities undertaken within the Ngāti Awa rohe moana (customary coastal territory) – including fishing and the gathering of seafood – have now been removed.

The Ngāti Awa rohe moana encompasses the Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōhiwa coastlines, and Rurima, Moutohorā and Te Puia ō Whakaari islands.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa acknowledges residents, visitors and the general public for their respect and support of the rāhui following the eruption of Whakaari.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

William Stewart
Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

Clarification of Ngāti Awa Rāhui Details

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 23 December 2019

Subject: Clarification of Ngāti Awa Rāhui Details

  1. The Ngāti Awa rāhui remains in place until further This prohibits all taking of seafood including fish, from Tarawera River in the west to Ōhiwa in the east.
  2. Marine activities not related to the taking of fish and seafood are permissible. However, taking of any seafood, including fishing, remains prohibited.
  3. The Ngāti Awa rāhui was placed on the evening of 9 December by principal spiritual and cultural leaders of Ngāti Awa. The appropriate karakia were performed by them.
  4. The Ngāti Awa rāhui placed on 9 December was supported by the Pākeke and kaumātua of Ngāti Awa.
  5. There has been incorrect information circulating regarding the rāhui. To avoid further potential for confusion, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa would ask that the public ignore all information on the Ngāti Awa rāhui that has not come from official Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa communication channels.
  6. Other neighbouring iwi have also placed rāhui over their territories. Some of those their rāhui have now been lifted, but the Ngāti Awa rāhui remains in place. The best way to be sure of rāhui details is to check with the local tangata whenua of the area you are seeking clarification on.
  7. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa extends our gratitude to those who have – and continue to – recognise the rāhui out of respect for the deceased and the traditional customs of the iwi. For further information and updates on the rāhui, please refer to ngatiawa.iwi.nz.

Official Ngāti Awa Digital Communication Channels

Dated: 23 December 2019 END

Ngāti Awa Rāhui update

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 18 December 2019

Subject:Ngāti Awa Rāhui Update

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa advises the rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) placed over the Ngāti Awa customary coastal marine area for fishing and gathering kaimoana (seafood) remains in place until further notice.

A total rāhui (gathering kaimoana, fishing and maritime activities) was applied by Ngāti Awa kaumātua last week out of respect for those who perished in last Monday’s Whakaari tragedy, and those who were unaccounted for and could be in the ocean.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chair and Ngāti Awa cultural expert Dr Hohepa Mason says because two victims are still unaccounted for and are possibly in the ocean the rāhui on fishing and gathering kaimoana remains.

“Out of continued respect for those yet to be returned to their loved ones, and the cultural implications around the likely presence of tūpāpaku (deceased) in the moana (ocean), the Ngāti Awa rāhui in our rohe (Ngāti Awa tribal boundary) on collecting kaimoana and fishing will remain in place until further notice”.

Other maritime activities (swimming, kayaking and boating) not related to kaimoana gathering and fishing would be permissible after 11am on Friday 20 December.

There is no change to the rāhui status of Te Puia Whakaari (Whakaari/White Island), with Dr Mason stressing the island remains completely out of bounds. “Whakaari remains under rāhui and should be respectfully avoided at this time”.

Dr Mason says Ngāti Awa acknowledge that while this is a traditional time of the year for fishing and gathering kaimoana (seafood), the iwi (tribe) respectfully ask for the continued adherence to the kaimoana rāhui in the rohe of Ngāti Awa and the rāhui over Whakaari.

“The general public and manuhiri (visitors) have been very respectful of our rāhui and we appreciate their dedicated observance of this Ngāti Awa tikanga”.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will make further updates on the rāhui if there are any changes to the current situation.

END

Summary:

– The Ngāti Awa kaimoana gathering and fishing rāhui remains in place until further notice

– Although the taking of any seafood – including fish – from anywhere within the Ngāti Awa rāhui boundary remains prohibited until further notice,  activities not related to the harvesting of seafood – including swimming, kayaking and boating – will be permissible from 11am Friday 20 December.

-Te Puia Whakaari (Whakaari/White Island), remains under strict rāhui and should be respectfully avoided.

-The boundary of the Ngāti Awa kaimoana and fishing rāhui is from the Tarawera River in the west, to Ōhiwa in the east and includes Te Puia Whakaari,   Rurima and Moutohorā Islands.

-Neighbouring coastal hapū and iwi have also applied their own rāhui over their own customary marine areas. Those iwi will be responsible for   administering their rāhui.

-Ngāti Awa are grateful for the respect that has been afforded to the rāhui to date.

Contact:

William Stewart

Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

PM pays tribute to Ngāti Awa

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 13 December 2019

Subject: PM pays tribute to Ngāti Awa 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has acknowledged Ngāti Awa for their role as tangata whenua (people of the land) in leading and caring for affected whānau (family members), following the Whakaari / White Island eruption and recovery operation earlier today.

Ngāti Awa kaumātua (elder) Joe Harawira says it is the responsibility and privilege as tangata whenua (people of the land), to support the families and our guests during this difficult time.

“Protocols determine our behaviour as a people and one of those is to show absolute respect to affected whānau (families).  This is a time for us to come together and wrap around all of those who have been affected by this tragedy.”

Ngāti Awa kaumātua led a visit to Whakaari / White Island for family members of those who remained on the island, accompanied by members of NZ Police, the NZ Defence Force and Australian High Commission before the recovery operation officially started.

Twenty-eight passengers, including some family members of those remaining on the island and four crew members, gathered for karakia (prayer) on the wharf before heading out just at 4.30am this morning.

As the group made their way out towards the island, the NZ Police launch ‘Deodar’ acknowledged family members by flashing their lights, before escorting them towards the island.

Once positioned, at a safe distance off the coast of Whakaari, further karakia were offered and family members were given an opportunity to say a few words.  After some quiet reflection time together, the group made its way back.

“This was about providing an opportunity for family to acknowledge their loved ones and share in their grief,” says Joe.

The recovery operation is ongoing and Ngāti Awa remain closely involved to ensure all related activity is consistent with ngā tikanga o Ngāti Awa (the customs of Ngāti Awa).

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332

Ngāti Awa Rāhui

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 12 December 2019

Subject: Ngāti Awa Rāhui

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Tapatoru a Toi Joint Management Committee request people to respect a rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) placed over the tribe’s customary coastal boundaries as a result of the eruption at Whakaari / White Island.

The rāhui encompasses the Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōhiwa coastlines, and Rurima, Moutohora and Te Puia ō Whakaari islands

Ngāti Awa rangatira Te Kei Merito says that while most Māori understand the purpose of a rāhui and naturally adhere to it, it is also important to convey the ethos of rāhui to the wider community so they might be more inclined to respect the prohibitive nature of the custom.

“There are a number of reasons to place a rāhui, and in this case the purpose is to acknowledge the fact that multiple people have already lost their lives as a result of the eruption. The application of rāhui in this instance is very much a sign of respect to those who lost their lives, and to their families;

“It is a very Māori – and in this case a very Ngāti Awa – way of expressing respect, sympathy and aroha in harrowing times such as these”

Neighbouring iwi, including Te Whakatōhea and Te Whānau a Apanui, have also placed rāhui over their customary coastal areas. This effectively represents a customary prohibition on all maritime activities for the whole of the Eastern Bay of Plenty coast. Mr Merito says he hopes the mana of the rāhui – and the iwi who have placed them  – will be respected.

“We would like to acknowledge our fellow iwi of the Mataatua confederation that have joined us in our efforts to apply tikanga Māori to this devastating situation, out of respect and reverence to all who are hurting as a result of this catastrophic tragedy. We implore people to venerate our rāhui, out of respect for the victims.”

The rāhui will be temporarily lifted to accommodate the eventual recovery operation from Whakaari. It has been confirmed that a Ngāti Awa tohunga – most likely Mr Merito – will accompany the recovery team to the island to conduct the necessary cultural imperatives and provide spiritual support to the recovery team

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332

Statement from Paul Quinn, Chair of White Island Tours Limited

Status: For immediate release

Date: 11 December 2019

Statement from Paul Quinn, Chair of White Island Tours Limited:

“First and foremost, we would like to express our sorrow and offer condolences to those who have lost their loved ones following the eruption on Whakaari / White Island on Monday.

At this stage, recovery of loved ones who are still on the island is of paramount concern and all of our resources including vessels, protection equipment and personnel have been made available to NZ Police and Civil Defence to support the recovery mission.

For Ngāti Awa (tangata whenua of Whakatāne) our responsibility to provide care for our people and visitors during this difficult time is foremost in our minds and actions. We are focussed on wrapping the necessary support around affected families and staff, all of whom are understandably distraught.

Karakia (prayer) services are being held daily to give staff and affected families an opportunity to come together in our grief.

Local liaisons are being appointed to support overseas families who are arriving in Whakatāne. Support packages are being put together today including practical and useful items for those families as they await news and updates on the recovery mission.

We are committed to facilitating family members’ travel and other arrangements while we all await the return of loved ones to their families.

We would like to acknowledge the numerous offers of support from our community and also wider Iwi from across the country.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

There are many questions that are left to be answered but our priority at this time is on the welfare of those affected.”

Paul Quinn.

 

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332

Whakaari/White Island Emergency

Status: For immediate release Date: 9 December 2019

Subject: Whakaari/White Island Emergency

White Island Tours Limited, are deeply saddened following the significant eruption at Whakaari / White Island this afternoon.

Paul Quinn, Chairman for White Island Tours says, “Devastation is an understatement. This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted.”

White Island Tours Limited are currently assisting Police and Civil Defence with the official emergency response.

“We acknowledge the considerable efforts from Police and Civil Defence and will continue to do whatever is necessary throughout the rescue operation, says Paul.

Our immediate focus is on supporting our staff, manuhiri and respective whānau, who have been significantly impacted and are showing immense strength and courage.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332