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Download AudioA Waikato Tainui historian believes a site at Mercer slated for return to mana whenua could become a major centre for sharing Waikato’s history.
The Department of Conservation has asked for submissions on the plan to return Te Paina, known as the Mercer Domain Recreation Reserve, to Waikato Tainui and its hapu Ngāti Naho and Ngāti Tamaoho.
Rahui Papa says the site of the block between the Waikato River and State Highway One makes it ideal for an interpretation centre, similar to what has been done on land returned at Rangiriri.
“In 1860 when Governor Grey made his declaration (for Māori) to get out of Auckland and move south of the Mangatawhiri he was particularly looking at Te Paina so it was the first land across the aukati line that was confiscated. It does come with a twinge of sadness, it comes with real mamae and pouri of the ngakau to remember the trials and tribulations of our tupuna,” he says.
Te Paina was also the centre for Princess Te Puea’s efforts to oppose conscription and then to treat victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic.
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