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February 23, 2022
Time right for Huntly name change
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On February 23, 2022
Download AudioA Huntly kaumatua says he’s prepared to go to the Waitangi Tribunal to get back the original name for his hometown.
Timi Maipi says Rāhui Pōkeka was the name given to the area by Te Putu 250 years ago when he put a rahui over the Waikato River to protect eel stocks and ensure they were distributed fairly between fishing and non-fishing families.
Restoring the name is a way to take back power and responsibility for the whenua and the awa and what they produce.
“We’re not trying to create opposition with our Pākehā but we want a major say. We own the place. We are tangata whenua and we were born here, we have our blood here, we fought in the battle of Rangiriri to maintain our rights to be part of this beautiful country of ours,” Mr Maipisays.
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