November 20, 2015
Iwi takes ancestral fire up river
Whanganui River iwi want to rebuild an ancient marae to serve as a base for their annual wananga down the awa.
A group this month inspected the site at Mangapaapapa, which is 65 km downstream from Taumarunui and only accessible by boat.
Paora Haitana from Tamahaki Kaunihera o Nga Hapu says a precedent was set with the re-establishement of a marae at Tieke about 20 years ago after a DOC hut was occupied,
"As a people Tamahaki decided we would carry our ahi kaa from Tieke to Mangapaapapa, which is a day’s travel by canoe from our next marae upriver which is a place called Whitianga. Another day’s paddle down and you are at Tieke and another day’s paddle you are at Pipiriki and you can paddle all the way out to Whanganui," he says.
Paora Haitana says the plan is to start with a water system, toilets and a temporary shelter, with a kitchen and meeting house to come later.
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