6 Noema, 2024

Korehāhā Whakahau has recently notched up the number of eradicated possums, current total as of Noema 31, 2024 is 2533.

In addition, Korehāhā Whakahau kaimahi have also spent the past month training and upskilling, filling their own kete with skills and knowledge by taking part in numerous trainings such as, Wheels, Tracks and Rollers license, 4x4 and LUV certification as well as workplace trainer certification and Incident Investigator certification.

As a rōpu, Korehāhā Whakahau has also gained skills and knowledge for Island Biosecurity and Island Quarantine.

Excitingly, Korehāhā Whakahau will begin to start using a detection dog to identify any presence in the Ōhope spit area and then working its way towards Tauwhare Pā.

Additionally, the Korehāhā Whakahau project was delighted to know that the whakawātea item composed by Ārona Maui for Ngāti Pūkeko carried their moniker.  

In the whakamarama for the waiata, Ārona said the overarching context of this composition is to remind the audience of the historical events that have affected our people over the course of many years of colonization and the consequences that have resulted from them. resulting in trauma across generations, fatalities, loss of whakapapa, value, and self-esteem. 

“We honour Korehāhā Whakahau for their outstanding efforts in guaranteeing the eradication of possums in this item. This allows the plants that are native to our area to flourish in their natural habitat. In addition, this establishment has given our iwi community members employment opportunities and established enduring relationships with other organisations that promote the values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and kaitiakitanga.

“We believe it is important to recognize the work that this establishment does because the service it provides is so valuable to Ngāti Awa. However, we also use this analogy to recall the damaging grievances that were directed towards our people without regard for the iwi's integrity. To the extent that our people were left confused, divided, and demolished because of the 1860s land confiscations.

“We affirm once more that, unlike the possums that destroy our forests, we will not be exterminated during this time. We demand that the government abide by the Treaty of Waitangi, which is a legal document, and we remind the relevant authorities that, despite their previous success, our people will not tolerate it going forward.”

E mihi ana mātou ki tō mātou hoa mahi a Sieanna Walker, i tū, i haka hoki me Ngāti Pūkeko. E tino whakahīhī ana a Korehāhā Whakau i tō tū me tōu mahi whakamīharo.