October 18, 2019
Fire by river to mark kōanga in Manawatu
Manawatū iwi and Palmerston North City Council are combining next month to celebrate spring with marshmallow toasting, fire dancing and a huge bonfire.
The Kōanga Spring Bonfire will be held on the beach at the Ahimate Reserve on Saturday November 2.
The council’s chief infrastructure officer, Tom Williams, says the event was so popular last year that council and iwi have committed to making it an annual event.
The main attraction will be a large bonfire made up of wood the council pulls from the river to minimise potential flooding.
The good quality native wood is given to iwi for carving and the rest has been dried for the bonfire.
Mr Williams says the event is also a way to draw more people to use the river for recreation.
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