October 09, 2012
River journey remembers sacrifice in war
There was theatre with a serious purpose when King Tuheitia took to the Waikato River yesterday.
The king and rangatira from around the motu climbed about waka taua at Ngaruawahia and travelled down the river to Huntly for the poukai at Waahi Marae.
Spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says the journey highlighted how the Kingitanga is bound up in the river.
He says it was an awe inspiring, especially when the flotilla rounded the corner at Taupiri maunga and paused at Tainui’s traditional burial grounds.
“As we bowed our heads in karakia and remembered the struggles of the past when the crown came in 1863 and war broke out, lives were lost in the protection of our homes. We fast forward now to 2013, the push and the advance and the progress we are trying to make in relation to water is just another important signpost in our journey as we make history,” Mr
Tukoroirangi Morgan says.
The king is doing what he can to help Maoridom come together to fight for its rights over water.