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August 19, 2016
Rangiriri, Te Wheoro: I riro whenua atu, me hoki whenua mai
Waatea Team
Posted On August 19, 2016
The site of the first battle of the Waikato War is back in the hands of Waikato Tainui.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry handed over the titles to Rangiriri Pa and Te Wheoro Redoubt Historic Reserve to Kingi Tuheitia at Turangawaewae Marae this morning.
Ceremonies started well before dawn with members of a taua bathing in the Waikato River and then going to Rangiriri Pa to rekindle the fires of occupation.
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says returning the sites is a way to continue building the relationship between the Crown and Waikato Tainui
He says there will be other ways found to mark the New Zealand wars over the next four years as iwi confer on ways to use a new $1 million a year budget allocation.
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