May 10, 2023
Manaaki for school and whānau pani as answers sought on cave tragedy
The tūpāpaku of a Whangarei Boys High School students who was swept away by rising floodwaters during a school caving trip has been returned to his whānau.
The tama believed to be about 15 years old, is going through the coronial process with whanau in attendance.
A kaikōrero for the whānau pani, Huhana Lyndon, says Ngāti Kahu o Torongare has placed a rāhui on Kiore Taretare, also known as Abbey Caves.
She says when the body was found about 9.30 last night, hapu members and kaumatua headed out to the site to offer karakia and manaaki.
“This morning our kaumatua and hapu members assembled with the school to also provide manaaki and tautoko to the school at this important time in terms of how we move forward and look after our tamaiti, look after our school community and also our whānau pani,” Ms Lyndon says.
The whānau is yet to release any decisions on the tangi.