100 Years on and ANZAC Back at Pōhaturoa

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Whakatāne RSA, Whakatāne District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa are working together to turn back time for ANZAC Day this year.

One hundred years ago, Whakatāne held its first ANZAC commemorations at Pōhaturoa in the town’s central business district and this year the plan is to do same and pay homage to that part of the civic history.

Whakatāne RSA President Victor Hape said this year’s Dawn Service would be held at Pōhaturoa, however Te Whare o Toroa Marae in Wairaka would still host breakfast afterwards.

“The first records at the RSA show that we held a community ANZAC Day service in 1923 at Pōhaturoa Rock. Back in 1923 they used to have it at about 2pm. Over the years, the dawn service commemorations have moved between Pōhaturoa, to the Heads, where the wreaths were floated out into the sea, and then eventually it moved to Te Whare o Toroa Marae where it has been ever since.”

“The Dawn Service will return to Te Whare o Toroa Marae next year but when I realized that our records showed that the first one was at Pōhaturoa in 1923, we thought we needed to do something special to mark the anniversary.”

Mr Hape brought representatives from Ngāti Awa and the District Council together to help pull off the plan.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chief Executive Reuben Araroa said Ngāti Awa had always supported ANZAC commemorations in Whakatāne and in other townships across the district.

“Our support is to recognise the service and sacrifices that many of our Ngāti Awa service people undertook during our past and present. More importantly the commemoration provides the opportunity for iwi to come together in a different way to reflect on such matters related to iwi whether we had served or not.

“It’s equally important our future generations recognise the importance of remembering our Iwi members who served and gave their lives for the future wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Whakatāne District Mayor Dr Victor Luca said the council was pleased to support the services at Pōhaturoa.

“I’ve attended the dawn service at Wairaka in previous years and appreciate Ngāti Hokopū and Ngāti Awa welcoming the wider community. It’s great to see so many families and young people turning out to honour those who served. I think this year’s dawn service at Pōhataroa will be very special.”

The community is asked to gather near Pōhaturoa before 5.30am with formalities to start shortly after that time, beginning with a small mihi from Ngāti Awa.

A full Dawn Service will follow including the flying of the National flags of New Zealand, Australia and Turkey, the readings of the ode and laying of the wreathes.

ANZAC breakfast, with the traditional roll call, will be held at Te Whare o Toroa Marae on Muriwai Drive following the service and buses will be available for transport.

Whakatāne District Council will also hold its traditional Civic ANZAC Day Memorial Service at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall later in the morning.

Events focus for Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae, Not Tourism

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A house built fit for Royalty or more specifically a queen, the Mataatua Wharenui will become the home for events of significance rather than focusing on a tourism visitors experience at Te Manuka Tūtahi marae.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chief Executive Reuben Araroa said a decision had been made to review the operating model for Te Manuka Tūtahi marae and as a result it would cease the Mataatua Visitor Experience and no longer be providing a tourism offering for people walking in off the street or for those who are visiting the area as tourists.

Mr Araroa said after conducting a financial analysis of Te Manuka Tūtahi, it became clear that the original model was significantly challenged given how the tourism sector was performing across Aotearoa, which required the Rūnanga to adapt in a climate of rising costs and low revenue.

“As a result, a decision was made to change the focus on how people and the general public would interact with Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae. The well-known wharenui narrative was that it was built fit for a queen and this new approach will enable us to concentrate on allowing Mataatua Wharenui to be the place for events of greater significance from now on.

Mr Araroa said the Rūnanga was still working on the details of the new model, but Te Manuka Tūtahi marae would no longer be taking tourism bookings as of March 1, however, would be available to Ngāti Awa.

He said the Rūnanga was working with those who had already had bookings for later in the year to communicate the change and its impact on them.

“Our strategic development plan, Te Ara Poutama o Ngāti Awa, acknowledges the importance of Mataatua Wharenui in enhancing the mana of Ngāti Awa and uplifting its people.

“This thinking has helped galvanize the change in focus for Te Manuka Tūtahi marae and so we are also working with our iwi and other stakeholders to understand how they can support the new approach.”

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa appoints Tūwhakairiora O’Brien as new Board Chair

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It was a changing of the guard at Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa (TRONA) on Friday (Friday 17, 2023) with the appointment of Tūwhakairiora O’Brien as Chair and Manurere Glen as Deputy Chair.

Mr O’Brien is currently the representative for the Ngāti Awa hapū Te Pahipoto on the TRONA board, and he was also elected to the Whakatāne District Council at the last election.

Ms Glen represents the Ngāi Te Rangihouhiri II hapū on the board and is a ECE Service Manager at Te Tohu Ora o Ngāti Awa.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chief Executive Reuben Araroa said the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chair demonstrated the tribe’s leadership succession plan in action with Mr O’Brien having already served six years as Deputy Chair and nine as a board member and Ms Glen already serving 12 years on the Board and sub committees to become the first female to take a leadership position for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.

“Succession is one of the greatest challenges organisations will face so I am proud to see the growth in leadership capability within the Rūnanga,” said Mr Araroa.

“With the election, the duo now joins a legacy of leadership and service, following in the footsteps of Te Hau Paul, Tā Hirini Moko Mead, Dr Te Kei Merito, Dr Hohepa Mason and Joe Harawira, with Pouroto Ngaropo who has served as Deputy Chairman. We acknowledge their contributions and remember those leaders who are no longer with us who left an enduring legacy of inspiration that will help guide our Rūnanga into the future.

“I want to also acknowledge the outgoing Chair Joe Harawira who led Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa during some of the most challenging years our iwi and Aotearoa has faced. He was an exceptional leader who has the ability to make people of all walks of life feel secure in times of doubt and uncertainty. We wish Joe well and we are confident he will continue to carry the mana of Ngāti Awa within his new endeavors.

The two leaders join Dr Jim Mather, who was elected as the new chairman to the tribe’s financial arm, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings, at meeting last year.

3rd Anniversary | Whakaari Memorial

December 9 marks the third anniversary of the Whakaari tragedy in which 22 people lost their lives and many more were injured. As this day approaches, we remember with love those that were lost and pray for those that survived.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will join with others in our community to pay tribute to the victims in remembering them at two events on December 9.

The first will be a dawn ceremony commencing at 5am at the Te Hau Tutua memorial. The second commemoration will take place at Te Mānuka Tūatahi marae at 12.30pm starting with a powhiri and light refreshments at 1pm.

At approximately 1.45 guests will be welcomed to join us in the wharenui and a minute’s silence will be observed at 2.11pm. This event is expected to close around 3pm. Both of these events are open to the public.

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For more information, please contact Bianca Ruakere on 021 453 189.

Opihi Whanaungakore – hearing adjourned to allow more time for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, the Opihi Whanaungakore Trustees and Ngāi Taiwhakaea to protect the entirety of the Site

An adjournment has been granted by the Environment Court to postpone the hearing that was due to take place next week on 5th – 7th of December 2022 to appeal the granting of an archaeological authority to MMS GP Ltd (the Developer) to develop a residential complex, being a retirement village at 77 Bunyan road.

The adjournment, sought by the Developer, is to allow further time for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, the Opihi Whanaungakore Trustees and Ngāi Taiwhakaea to engage in discussions with the Developer to resolve the matter without the need for further litigation.

Any resolution would need to be one that addresses the significant concerns that have been raised around the impact of the development on the sacred burial grounds of Opihi Whanaungakore. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Taiwhakaea and the Opihi Whanaungakore Trustees are united that any resolution must protect the entirety of the proposed development Site.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Taiwhakaea and the Opihi Whanaungakore Trustees acknowledge those kaitiaki and descendants of Awanuiārangi, in particular te hunga rangatahi o Ngāti Awa, who put the call out and had intended to peacefully protest at the hearing. Your voice has been heard around the motu, and the world, and has assisted in providing this space for us to have further discussions and attempt to protect the entirety of the Site for future generations.

Te Kākahoroa tū taratahi
ka whati i te hau,
Te Kākahoroa tū pāhekoheko
e kore e whati

The Toetoe that stands in isolation
will be destroyed by the elements with ease,
however, the Toetoe that grows in mass
will with-stand the winds destructive forces.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa express support for Waitangi Tribunal ruling on Motiti Island

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Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa (Ngāti Awa) are delighted with the findings of a Waitangi Tribunal report released this week, that recognises that Te Patuwai and Te Whānau a Tauwhao aretangata whenua of Motiti Island and that Te Patuwai affiliates to Ngāti Awa.

Ngāti Awa have supported the Te Patuwai Tribal Committee in a dispute over which group is the rightful and legal mana whenua of Motiti Island. The dispute was lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal in 2018.

Speaking on the report Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Tumuaki (Chairman) Joe Harawira said:

“The report acknowledges the strong links through whakapapa and occupation that Te Patuwai and Te Whānau a Tauwhao have to Motiti.
“As the rightful stewards of the island we offer our support to them should they need our help in decisions about the future of the island.”

We remember and acknowledge the unwavering contributions of Meremaihi Williams and PutiKoopu, we mourn their loss.

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For more information please contact Bianca Ruakere on 021 453 189.

To read the full report please refer to the Waitangi Tribunal website.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa pays tribute to Sir Wira Gardiner

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Today we pay tribute to our whānaunga Ta Wira Gardiner who has passed away at the age of 78.

Ta Wira (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) was one of the pre-eminent Māori leaders of our time – a founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal, a devoted public servant and a staunch leader and advocate for Māori rights, education and culture.

During his long and distinguished career Sir Wira served in the army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, headed the Iwi Transition Agency and was founding CEO of Te Puni Kōkiri. Most recently he serves as interim Chair of Oranga Tamariki before standing down due to illness.

He also held several important governance roles chairing the Tertiary Education Commission, the Te Papa museum board and the Local Government Commission.

Sir Wira was also a published author of non-fiction books on the Māori Battalion, the history and tradition of kapa haka and a personal view on combat: A Soldier’s View of the Vietnam War told from the perspective of soldiers from the V4 Company who served in South Vietnam.

Sir Wira was known for his diplomacy, sharp intellect, and his ability to navigate and maintain collaborative relationships with Māori and non-Maori alike.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Tumuaki (Chairman) Joe Harawira said:

“Ta Wira was an agent of transformational change in all that he pursued on both the political and social scene for Ngati Awa and Māoridom as a whole. His aroha for his iwi was second to only his whānau. The legacy he has left for his people is immeasurable.

“We send our aroha and condolences to Sir Wira’s whānau, his wife Hekia, his children, mokopuna and everyone that knew and loved him. His passing is a great loss. Kei te tangi te ngakau mōu, mō tō whānau e Wira.”

It was Sir Wira’s express wish that no tangihanga would be held following his passing to protect against any potential impacts to frontline workers and the health system as the result of the current Omicron outbreak.

Ngāti Awa Rāhui Following Death at Moutohora

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A seven-day rāhui has been put in place following the death of a man who was diving at Moutohora Island today.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chairman Joe Harawira says the rāhui would begin today (Thursday, December 23) and run through until next week (Thursday, December 30).

A rāhui, or ban, is a cultural practice that restricts the access to, or use of, an area and its resources. In in this case, access to Moutohora Island and its resources has been restricted for seven days.

Mr Harawira says the man’s death at this time of the year is particularly sad and he sends his condolences to the family on behalf of the Rūnanga.

“Christmas is all about celebrating with family and friends, and now this man’s whānau will be spending this time grieving for him rather than sharing the festivities with him. They will be in our thoughts as they face this sad time.”

He says the decision to implement a rahui was made in partnership with Te Tapatoru a Toi chairman, Te Kei Merito. Te Tapatoru a Toi is the joint management committee that was established with representation from Ngāti Awa, the Crown and the community to take care of Moutohora, Ohope Scenic Reserve and Tauwhare Pā.

The rāhui imposed does not include the Rurima Islands.

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Contact:
Michal Akurangi
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Manager Taiao
Mobile: 027 647 7171

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa remembers Whakaari victims on Second Anniversary

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On the second anniversary of the Whakaari eruption Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa (TRONA) and White Island Tours staff have privately come together to remember the victims, the survivors and everyone who was impacted by the tragedy.

Twenty-two people died following the eruption on December 9, 2019 at 2.11pm. Of the 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption another 22 others suffered life changing injuries.

Among those who lost their lives were White Island Tours guides Hayden Marshall-Inman and Tipene Maangi. Today their colleagues and friends will join together to remember them and celebrate their lives.

Kelsey Waghorn and Jake Millbank were also guiding visitors to the island that day. They survived the eruption and guided many people to safety despite their own serious injuries.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Tumuaki (Chairman) Joe Harawira said:

“We will always remember the people that lost their lives that day and we continue to pray for those that lost loved ones.

“Our thoughts are also with the survivors, here in Aotearoa and abroad and we hope they are healing physically and spiritually. We join with them in their grief.”

For the second consecutive year the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented a large memorial service from taking place. TRONA and White Island Tours staff will gather for a private commemoration to honour Hayden and Tipene. A minute’s silence will be observed at 2.11pm.

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For more information please call Bianca Ruakere on 021 453 189