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Te Muriwai Mai Tāwhiti near Gisborne has finally got a new water supply.
Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo Trust chief executive Doug Jones says water from the Mangapoike dams within the Ngai Tamanuhiri rohe has been piped to Gisborne for at least 70 years, but the predominantly Māori village has always relied on rainwater tanks for drinking water for the 66 homes, marae and school.
The water supply, called Pātaka Wai, will help whanau in the summer months, saving them up to $1000 in tank refills.
Designs on the facility created by Ngai Tamanuhiri artist Maia Gibbs tell the community’s story, including reference to the three generations of nannies who fought for the right to access water for their ancestral land.
The $2.5 million facility was paid for from the first tranche of Three Waters funding.
