Tours to Moutohorā: Island Sanctuary

White Island Tours Limited has recommenced tours to Moutohorā Island for the first time since the Whakaari/White Island eruption on 9 December 2019.

CEO Tracey Hook says that whilst this is a positive step forward in terms of providing certainty and employment for staff, the recommencement of tours will be a sombre and emotional occasion.

White Island Tours has carried out tours to Moutohorā for a number of years.

‘Tourism is an important contributor for our local economy and our staff are eager to get back to work,’ says Tracey.

No prohibitions had been placed on Moutohorā following the eruption, but the tour had been temporarily ceased out of respect for the victims, staff and affected families. 

Moutohorā Island is jointly managed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and Te Papa Atawhai through Te Tapatoru a Toi and is a designated Wildlife Management Reserve.

Moutohorā is a pest-free oasis that is home to a number of New Zealand’s rare and endangered plants, birds and reptiles.  The tour includes a journey through the regenerated native bush before stopping at the island’s secluded hot water beach. 

‘This is an important milestone for not just our staff but also the broader Whakatāne community,’ says Tracey.

‘We thank everyone locally, nationally and internationally for their support. Our hearts and prayers remain firmly with the families who were and continue to be affected by this tragedy.’

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Clarifies Position On Ōwairaka Issue

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 10 January 2020

Subject: Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Clarifies Position On Ōwairaka Issue

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa wishes to clarify its position on the protests at Ōwairaka to clear up any confusion around our involvement in the matter.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is the mandated representative iwi entity for Ngāti Awa established under our Settlement Act 2005 to receive and administer our Treaty of Waitangi Settlement with the Crown.

Our Settlement with the Crown was led by Ngāti Awa kaumātua and endorsed by iwi members of Ngāti Awa by postal ballot in 2004/2005.

As per our legislation, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa represents the twenty-two (22) hapū of Ngāti Awa who elect a hapū representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa every three years.

Further, our legislation sets out that Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa acts for and on behalf of ngā uri o ngā hapū o Ngāti Awa, being the members of Ngāti Awa in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 

The Ngāti Awa area of interest as set out in our Settlement legislation is from Waihi Estuary near Maketu in the West to Ōhiwa in the East and inland towards Rotoiti, Tarawera, and Taneatua.

Iwi members of Ngāti Awa can freely express their opinions and perspectives as they choose, however, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa confirms that our authorised spokespersons are the Chair Dr Hohepa Mason and Manahautū (CEO) Leonie Simpson.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa supports tangata whenua to make the best decisions for their taonga, lands and waters in their rohe, and we are open to discussions with appropriate iwi entities on this matter.

Consequently, we will not be making any further public comment on Ōwairaka at this time.

END

Notes:

www.ngatiawa.iwi.nz

Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Act 2005

Kōtahi marama ki muri – One month after Whakaari

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 9 January 2020

Subject: Kōtahi marama ki muri – One month after Whakaari 

Waipuke ana te rere o roimata o Ngāti Awa, otirā ngā iwi o Mataatua, i ngā mate ohorere i Whakaari.

E tangi ana mātau ko ngā whānau o ō mātau uri, ko ngā whānau o ngā manuhiri o te rohe.

Ka tuku te marumaru, ngā roimata, me te awhi.

E inoi hoki ana kia whakarauora rātau i taotū i tēnei pāmamaetanga, me te inoi anō kia hoki mai te tokorua kua ngaro tonu.

E mihi ana a Ngāti Awa ki a rātau ngā toa i whakamōrea kia whakahoki ngā mōrehu, ngā mate hoki, i a Whakaari ki ngā ringa o ō rātau whānau.

One month has passed since the Whakaari tragedy, a day that will linger long in the memory of our iwi, our community and especially the friends and families of those who perished as a result of the calamity.

We continue to grieve with those who lost loved ones. Although there is little that can soothe such unfathomable pain, it is with heartfelt aroha and compassion we offer you our shelter, our tears and our embrace.

Our thoughts also remain with those who were injured so terribly in the eruption and pray that their wounds – both physical and emotional – will heal swiftly and completely, in the hope they will eventually return to the lives they enjoyed before the tragedy.

Ngāti Awa also wish to thank those who selflessly exhausted their time, resource and energy into the emergency response and recovery. From those who placed themselves at great risk to recover both the living and the deceased from Whakaari back into the arms of their whānau, to the medical professionals who worked around the clock saving lives and providing comfort to the injured, and to the countless agencies and individuals who stood in solidarity with Ngāti Awa and the wider Whakatāne community as we rallied to support the impacted and their families.

We remain focussed on the wellbeing of our manuhiri, our staff and especially the bereaved families, who continue to display immense strength and courage at this time despite being crippled with the debilitating hopelessness of loss.

Mā te Atua me te waahi ngaro tātau e tiaki e manaaki i ngā wā katoa.

END

For further information:
William Stewart
Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa AGM 2018/2019

NAU MAI KI TE HUI Ā TAU 2019 O TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA

The 2019 Annual General Meeting for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will be held on 7 March 2020 at Tuteao Marae, 597A Te Teko Road, Te Teko 3192

AGENDA

9.00am            Pōhiri

9:30am            Morning Tea

10.00am          AGM opens

  • Chairman’s Welcome
  • Confirmation of previous AGM Minutes – 16 December 2018
  • Presentation and Adoption of Annual Report for 2018/2019
  • Presentation of draft Annual Plan 2020/2021
  • Report – Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited
  • Report – Ngāti Awa Asset Holdings Limited
  • Appointment of Auditor for 2020/21
  • Approval of Representatives’ remuneration for 2020/21
  • General Business

1.15pm            AGM closes

Copies of the Annual Report and draft Annual Plan will be available before the AGM for inspection by members at Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Awa House, 4-10 Louvain St Whakatane and online at www.ngatiawa.iwi.nz

Ngāti Awa Rāhui on Whakatāne River

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 7 January 2020

Subject: Ngāti Awa Rāhui on Whakatāne River

Heke tonu atu ngā roimata o Ngāti Awa me Mataatua i ngā mate ohorere o te wā. E tangi ana mātau ko ngā whānau o ō mātau uri, ko ngā whānau o ngā manuhiri o te rohe.

Ngāti Awa tōhunga (spiritual leaders) and kaumātua have placed a rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) over the Whakatāne river as a result of a drowning near the river mouth this afternoon.

Ngāti Awa kaumātua attended the scene with the deceased, the whānau pani (bereaved family), and the rāhui karakia (prayers) were held at 5pm today.

To respect the rāhui, people are asked not to gather seafood, catch fish, and undertake water activities in the Whakatāne river from Turuturu Roimata (Statue Rock near river mouth) to Taneatua until the rāhui is lifted at 5am, Friday 10 January.

Ngāti Awa tōhunga and kaumātua ask that the two-day rāhui is respected to acknowledge the tragic event, the deceased and the whānau pani.

Before undertaking activities on the Whakatāne River during the rāhui, Ngāti Awa tōhunga and kaumātua ask that people reflect on the absolute tragedy of losing a loved one so suddenly, the suffering of the whānau pani at this very difficult time, and the length of the rāhui.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the whānau pani who are left grieving and heartbroken as a result of this afternoon’s tragic events.

Ngā manaakitanga o te waahi ngaro ki runga i a tātau katoa i tēnei wā pouri.

END
For further information:
William Stewart
Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

Ngāti Awa Rāhui Lifted

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 28 December 2019

Subject: Ngāti Awa Rāhui Lifted

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa advises that the Ngāti Awa rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) that has been in place since the Whakaari eruption was lifted at 1pm today (28 December 2019).

Following discussions this morning between senior Ngāti Awa kaumatua and cultural experts, the appropriate karakia (prayers) were performed by Ngāti Awa tohunga at 1pm today, lifting the rāhui he placed in the late afternoon following the Whakaari eruption.

Consequently, temporary prohibitions on marine activities undertaken within the Ngāti Awa rohe moana (customary coastal territory) – including fishing and the gathering of seafood – have now been removed.

The Ngāti Awa rohe moana encompasses the Whakatāne, Ōhope and Ōhiwa coastlines, and Rurima, Moutohorā and Te Puia ō Whakaari islands.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa acknowledges residents, visitors and the general public for their respect and support of the rāhui following the eruption of Whakaari.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

William Stewart
Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

Clarification of Ngāti Awa Rāhui Details

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 23 December 2019

Subject: Clarification of Ngāti Awa Rāhui Details

  1. The Ngāti Awa rāhui remains in place until further This prohibits all taking of seafood including fish, from Tarawera River in the west to Ōhiwa in the east.
  2. Marine activities not related to the taking of fish and seafood are permissible. However, taking of any seafood, including fishing, remains prohibited.
  3. The Ngāti Awa rāhui was placed on the evening of 9 December by principal spiritual and cultural leaders of Ngāti Awa. The appropriate karakia were performed by them.
  4. The Ngāti Awa rāhui placed on 9 December was supported by the Pākeke and kaumātua of Ngāti Awa.
  5. There has been incorrect information circulating regarding the rāhui. To avoid further potential for confusion, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa would ask that the public ignore all information on the Ngāti Awa rāhui that has not come from official Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa communication channels.
  6. Other neighbouring iwi have also placed rāhui over their territories. Some of those their rāhui have now been lifted, but the Ngāti Awa rāhui remains in place. The best way to be sure of rāhui details is to check with the local tangata whenua of the area you are seeking clarification on.
  7. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa extends our gratitude to those who have – and continue to – recognise the rāhui out of respect for the deceased and the traditional customs of the iwi. For further information and updates on the rāhui, please refer to ngatiawa.iwi.nz.

Official Ngāti Awa Digital Communication Channels

Dated: 23 December 2019 END

Ngāti Awa Rāhui update

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 18 December 2019

Subject:Ngāti Awa Rāhui Update

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa advises the rāhui (temporary ritual prohibition) placed over the Ngāti Awa customary coastal marine area for fishing and gathering kaimoana (seafood) remains in place until further notice.

A total rāhui (gathering kaimoana, fishing and maritime activities) was applied by Ngāti Awa kaumātua last week out of respect for those who perished in last Monday’s Whakaari tragedy, and those who were unaccounted for and could be in the ocean.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chair and Ngāti Awa cultural expert Dr Hohepa Mason says because two victims are still unaccounted for and are possibly in the ocean the rāhui on fishing and gathering kaimoana remains.

“Out of continued respect for those yet to be returned to their loved ones, and the cultural implications around the likely presence of tūpāpaku (deceased) in the moana (ocean), the Ngāti Awa rāhui in our rohe (Ngāti Awa tribal boundary) on collecting kaimoana and fishing will remain in place until further notice”.

Other maritime activities (swimming, kayaking and boating) not related to kaimoana gathering and fishing would be permissible after 11am on Friday 20 December.

There is no change to the rāhui status of Te Puia Whakaari (Whakaari/White Island), with Dr Mason stressing the island remains completely out of bounds. “Whakaari remains under rāhui and should be respectfully avoided at this time”.

Dr Mason says Ngāti Awa acknowledge that while this is a traditional time of the year for fishing and gathering kaimoana (seafood), the iwi (tribe) respectfully ask for the continued adherence to the kaimoana rāhui in the rohe of Ngāti Awa and the rāhui over Whakaari.

“The general public and manuhiri (visitors) have been very respectful of our rāhui and we appreciate their dedicated observance of this Ngāti Awa tikanga”.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will make further updates on the rāhui if there are any changes to the current situation.

END

Summary:

– The Ngāti Awa kaimoana gathering and fishing rāhui remains in place until further notice

– Although the taking of any seafood – including fish – from anywhere within the Ngāti Awa rāhui boundary remains prohibited until further notice,  activities not related to the harvesting of seafood – including swimming, kayaking and boating – will be permissible from 11am Friday 20 December.

-Te Puia Whakaari (Whakaari/White Island), remains under strict rāhui and should be respectfully avoided.

-The boundary of the Ngāti Awa kaimoana and fishing rāhui is from the Tarawera River in the west, to Ōhiwa in the east and includes Te Puia Whakaari,   Rurima and Moutohorā Islands.

-Neighbouring coastal hapū and iwi have also applied their own rāhui over their own customary marine areas. Those iwi will be responsible for   administering their rāhui.

-Ngāti Awa are grateful for the respect that has been afforded to the rāhui to date.

Contact:

William Stewart

Mauriora Marketing and PR Ltd
(021) 220 8015

PM pays tribute to Ngāti Awa

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Status: For immediate release

Date: 13 December 2019

Subject: PM pays tribute to Ngāti Awa 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has acknowledged Ngāti Awa for their role as tangata whenua (people of the land) in leading and caring for affected whānau (family members), following the Whakaari / White Island eruption and recovery operation earlier today.

Ngāti Awa kaumātua (elder) Joe Harawira says it is the responsibility and privilege as tangata whenua (people of the land), to support the families and our guests during this difficult time.

“Protocols determine our behaviour as a people and one of those is to show absolute respect to affected whānau (families).  This is a time for us to come together and wrap around all of those who have been affected by this tragedy.”

Ngāti Awa kaumātua led a visit to Whakaari / White Island for family members of those who remained on the island, accompanied by members of NZ Police, the NZ Defence Force and Australian High Commission before the recovery operation officially started.

Twenty-eight passengers, including some family members of those remaining on the island and four crew members, gathered for karakia (prayer) on the wharf before heading out just at 4.30am this morning.

As the group made their way out towards the island, the NZ Police launch ‘Deodar’ acknowledged family members by flashing their lights, before escorting them towards the island.

Once positioned, at a safe distance off the coast of Whakaari, further karakia were offered and family members were given an opportunity to say a few words.  After some quiet reflection time together, the group made its way back.

“This was about providing an opportunity for family to acknowledge their loved ones and share in their grief,” says Joe.

The recovery operation is ongoing and Ngāti Awa remain closely involved to ensure all related activity is consistent with ngā tikanga o Ngāti Awa (the customs of Ngāti Awa).

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332