War commemoration bring wānanga mau rākau together

Atereano Mateariki War commemoration bring wānanga mau rākau together

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A mau rākau trainer says Te Pūtake o Te Riri is a great opportunity for warriors from the various wananga around the country to train together.

The annual commemoration of the New Zealand Wars included a mass gathering on Monday hosted by Taurangamoana iwi.

Taumutu Purewa from Te Tawharau o Mātātua says mass practices over the past month brought together kaitātaki like Hemi Tai Tin, Haturini McGarvey, and the team from Mokoia Island trained by the late Mita Mohi.

“Outside of Te Pūtake o te Riri you will never, never ever get us together and wānanga together. So it’s opened the doors ki roto i waku mahara ko tēnei mea te tatau pounamu (making peace). It’s a healing journey from the pakanga and we carry it on from now,” he says.

Taumutu Purewa says kaupapa like Te Pūtake o te Riri carry lessons that can guide rangatira ō āpōpō.

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