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Tūnuiārangi Mclean was among the hundreds of who attended the commemoration at Rangiwaho Marae, Muriwai, south of Gisborne this week.
He says the turnout was a coming together of the Māori faiths, with Ratana, Pai Maarire and followers of the teachings of the Parihaka prophets also represented.
Mr Mclean says the real stars were the tamariki, they were the stars throughout.
"All the young voices, some of them only aged 5, 6, were saying the prayers and blessings and singing the waiata and hīmene of the Haahi Ringatū just as much as the elders were doing it, so for me and the majority there were saying the future of the haahi is in safe hands," he says.
A highlight was the unveiling by Hikairo, the grandson of the Māori King Tūheitia, of a stone marking the return of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Tūruki and his followers from the Chatham Islands.
TUNUIARANGI MCLEAN FULL INTERVIEW
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