December 19, 2023
Horowhenua hapū hikoi recovers history
A Raukawa hapū has marked the event that led to it disappearing from view for almost 150 years.
On Sunday members of Ngāti Hikitanga along with Ngāti Pareraukawa and Ngāti Huia walked the seven kilometres from Levin southwest to Māhoenui on the northern shore of Lake Papaitonga.
Kaumatua Larry Parr says his tupuna lived there from the 1830s, when they came down from Kawhia with Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata, until December 17, 1873, when their village was razed by a neighbouring iwi while crown troops watched on.
He says Ngāti Hikitanga was dispersed along with the other hapū in the kāinga, and it only was given a place on the Raukawa board in 2010.
It wants to make the commemoration an annual event.
“Our claim might not be settled in my lifetime, who knows, so what we’re ensuring is our mokopuna know the story and they will carry on the wait for our claim and restoration to be made,” Mr Parr says.