November 10, 2017
Health of maunga reflects health of people
The health of the maunga will be on the minds of people attending the Te Rangi Hiroa commemoration in Taranaki later this month.
The annual event usually includes a wananga focusing on health-related issues, reflecting the legacy physician, politician and scholar Te Rangi Hiroa or Sir Peter Buck left his people.
Colleen Tuuta from Ngati Mutunga says the fact Taranaki tribes are working towards a settlement of its claims over their mountain has brought questions to the fore, such as how kaitiakitanga should be exercised.
"We whakapapa to the maunga. That is our birthright. The well being of the maunga impacts on all of us so all of that water comes off our maunga, that runs out of those awa, ends up in our taps. So our life, our oranga is sustained by that wai o ra," she says.
Colleen Tuuta says many people still go to places on Taranaki maunga for traditional healing rituals.
Te Ra o Te Rangi Hiroa is at Urenui Pa on November 25.
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