Tairāwhiti leader and Māori Language Commissioner Wayne Ngata says he’s concerned continuing extreme weather events could lead to further depopulation of East Coast kainga.
He says people are exhausted and dispirited as they clean up after yet another bout of heavy rain.
It’s not just a matter of filling the tanks any more.
“You can’t blame people for seeking life, work, lifestyle elsewhere where it may be less challenging. Then you ask yourself who’s looking after the hau kainga? You’re having less and less resource at home to look after your marae and look after your old people and all those sorts of things,” Dr Ngata says.
