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15 June 2007

Matariki Celebrations at Takahiwai Marae - Kotohora

The Matariki (Māori New Year) has come again. For those living in the region of the Ngatiwai Trust Board, the Matariki heralds the time of the whale migrations north.

To celebrate, the Ngatiwai Trust Board is coordinating a three day gathering at Takahiwai Marae to help the local hapu, Patuharakeke unearth the bones of 19 whales that were stranded last November.

The mass stranding attracted national attention to Bream Bay through to Uretiti. Local residents and Department of Conservation tried to assist the pilot whales to return to sea. However, over 50 beasts died on Uretiti Beach.

35 of them were buried whole. 19 of them were flensed and buried by Ngatiwai Trust Board staff and volunteers from Patuharakeke and around Northland.

Ngatiwai Trust Board’s Resource Management Coordinator, Tui Shortland says the event is a significant one for Tai Tokerau.

“At that time, volunteers came from Ngati Kuri in the Far North, Te Rarawa, Te Mahurehure in Hokianga, Ngati Hine, Ngati Rehia at Te Tii, Te Uri o Hau and of course throughout the Ngati Wai region.

“Each of the 19 whales that were flensed was given a name to identify the bones.

“Each person that named a whale has been given a treasure as an act of kotahitanga (unity) by the Patuharakeke,” says Ms Shortland.

“The whale bones will be gifted to a tribal authority that is nominated by the person who named the whales.”

Matariki is a time to bring families together. It is a time of unity. The constellation itself guides Māori to plan for the coming year.

“We know scientifically and from our own tribal stories that whales are carrying out the mammalian migration patterns at this time.

“We are on alert for strandings around the coastlines of Aotearoa. So it is timely that we bring people together at Matariki to honour them for their assistance to our sub tribe, Patuharakeke,” says Ms Shortland.

The hui starts with a powhiri on Wednesday 20 June at Takahiwai Marae, One Tree Point and finishes on Friday at lunchtime.

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19 June 2007

Te Wananga Kotohora – Matariki 2007

National Whale Recovery Wananga, Ruakaka

20-22 June 2007

The bones of 19 pilot whales that were flensed and buried after last years mass stranding along Bream Bay will be given away at a wananga at Ruakaka, south of Whangarei, this week (22 June).

Over a hundred people are expected to take part in the three day gathering.

Ngatiwai Trust Board Manager, Addie Smith says the mass stranding was a relationship builder for the iwi and hapu.

Volunteers were given the honour of naming a whale, and now have the chance to take the bones they named back to their tribe.

“One of the whales flensed during November last year was named Te Rangaimarie to indicate the peaceful scene at the mass stranding. The activities surrounding the whales have helped to unite not only the local hapu, but also hapu across the north.

“People come down from Ngati Kuri in the Far North, Pukepoto just out of Kaitaia, Ngati Rehia from Kerikeri and Matauri, and Te Mahurehure from Hokianga to help the Ngatiwai Resource Management Unit to assist Patuharakeke with the mass stranding,” says Ms Smith.

“The entire wananga is being held at Takahiwai Marae where the work crews stayed during the mass stranding.

“The Ngatiwai Trust Board is glad we can assist with managing the whales’ remains. But the decision to give the whale bones to the people who came to help was made by the local people of Patuharakeke.”

The idea of holding the Wananga during the Mäori New Year is not a coincidence says Mrs Smith.

“The Matariki heralds the whale migration,” she says. “The Matariki is a time of building relationships, and consolidating relationships. The Matariki is also a time for Kotahitanga, bringing families, sub-tribes and tribes together to celebrate the start of a new year of activity in the gardens, spawning in the seas and rivers and the shortest day of the year that leads to the days getting longer.

“The decision to hold the wananga to bring people together to learn more about the Maori appreciation of whales during the Matariki gives us an auspicious start to the new year.”

The Wananga will celebrate some significant milestones for Mäori.

“As far as we are aware, the first designated area to flense stranded whales will be dedicated,” says Addie Smith.

The site in front of Semenoff’s sand supplies has been approved by the Department of Conservation. But the local hapu will decide on the kaupapa of the site.

“It is the first time Iwi resource managers will get together to discuss and implement strategies for future whale recovery cases.

“It is the first time whale bone has ever been given out to other iwi and hapu organisations from the Ngatiwai area,” she says. “The volunteers that assisted with flensing will decide which authority within its own tribal boundaries will act as guardian over the treasures,” says Mrs Smith.

“And of course, this is the largest flensing in Ngatiwai Trust Board history that I can recall,” she said.

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19 June 2007

Matariki Marks a Specifically Dedicated Site for Whale Recovery

National Whale Recovery Hui, Ruakaka

20-22 June 2007

Māori from around the country will be at Bream Bay this week (Thursday 21 June) to dedicate a stretch of dunes at Uretiti beach to specifically recover whales.

It is the first site known to be set aside as a conservation reserve for this purpose. A whale recovery includes a crew of people to render down the different resources within a whale after it has died. Samples are also taken on request for approved research.

The dedicated site is already part of the Conservation Recreational Reserve Estate.

“It is auspicious to have the dedication at Matariki,” says Ms Smith. It is a new era for Māori entering into whale research, for Patuharakeke, for the dedicated site, for scientists working in the recovery teams and for our future.”

The dedication starts from the marae at 5:15 am on Thursday morning. Interested parties can follow the convoy from opposite the Bream Bay Garage on SH1 to the Uretiti site at 5:30am on Thursday.

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MEDIA RELEASE
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19 June 2007

Whale Bones To Go To Hapu In Northland
National Whale Recovery Wananga, Ruakaka
20-22 June 2007

The bones of 19 whales will go to different tribal areas in the North as a gesture of kotahitanga (unity) at a Matariki celebration just out of Whangarei this Friday (22 June).

Patuharakeke, a hapu of Ngati Wai, Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi have invited the people who helped in the mass stranding flensing and burial of the bones, to take the bones back to their tribal areas.

Ngatiwai Trust Board manager, Addie Smith says it’s the first time in Ngatiwai Trust Board history this has happened.

“It is a very generous gesture,” she says.

“This hui will be an opportunity to work as regional and national teams to develop a strategy to care for treasures like the bones Patuharakeke have gifted.

“It will be the first time the Trust Board with Patuharakeke Trust has hosted such an event,” she recalls. “The invitation list includes Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa, Ngati Rehia, Te Orewai, Te Mahurehure, Te Uri o Hau, Te Uri o Hikihiki, Ngati Hau, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Manuhiri,” she said.

“Our whale recovery team is keen to work alongside all of the people who came to the mass stranding again.”

“Just like Matariki, we are starting a new year. We are looking forward to advancing with people we already work with in this whale recovery, and starting on a pathway together that will mutually benefit future generations and further whale research.

“The people from Patuharakeke have given people in Tai Tokerau the opportunity to understand and appreciate whales more,” she said.

ENDS

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