April 04, 2023
Kiingitanga puts boots on ground for Wairoa recovery
Ngati Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber says the visit to the rohe by Kiingi Tuheitia has been greatly appreciated by whanau.
The king has been touring flood-affected parts of Hawke’s Bay, and today he was headed for Wairoa.
Mr Barber says it’s good that he is able to see the damage with his own eyes and assess what contributions Tainui and the Kingitanga can make to the recovery.
“They’ve actually got a big workforce that has come into Wairoa for the next two weeks along with a lot of machinery and expertise. It’s been a great koha from the Kingitanga to Ngati Kahungunu but we spoke about our relationships through Mahinarangi and Turongo. Those connections are really important to te ao Maori,” he says.