November 18, 2014
Hapu learns from whale stranding
A Te Upokorehe kaumatua says the stranding of a pod of 41 pilot Whales at Ohiwa has been a spiritual journey for the eastern Bay of Plenty hapu.
The remains of the whales are now buried on Wallace Aramoana’s land, after the hapu helped process them under the direction of expert Ramarie Stewart and Department of Conservation specialists.
The heads were removed for study and to extract five different types of oil that can be used for rongoa or medicine.
Mr Aramona says the head of the pod’s matriarch included cancerous growths, which may have affected her sense of direction.
She was buried beside her unborn calf, which Te Upokorehe called Hatupatu.
"Now Hatupatu is there laid with all the rest because all the headless bodies, we decided to put him by them and he can hold the mauri-the life essence for the rest. He was wrapped in a blanket and laid to rest beside his mother as if he was swimming with his head facing east. He remains whole and will hold the mauri for all te upokoperu which is his whale family forever," says Mr Aramoana.
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