February 12, 2014
Reef stepping stone to Hawaiiki
A spokesman for a Motiti Island hapu affected by the Rena grounding says the ships owners and insurers are ignoring the cultural impact of the 2011 disaster.
The insurers are meeting iwi and community groups in the Bay of Plenty this week in advance of lodging an application to leave some of the wreck on the Astrolabe Reef.
Buddy Mikaere says Ngai Te Hapu considers removing all the wreckage is non-negotiable.
He says as well as the effect on marine life of toxic materials leaking from the wreck, the hapu considers the reef a taonga.
"Some of our people believe that rather than then going to Te Reinga on their way back to Hawaiiki when they leave this life, instead they take a big shortcut straight across the ocean, and Otaiti or Astrolabe Reef is one of the stepping stones to do that, so it has this very important spiritual aspect to it as well," Mr Mikaere says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BUDDY MIKAERE CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MTUyODk=
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