Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi Chair Rāniera Tau is calling for all Ngāpuhi to be involved in determining a final resting place for Hone Heke’s bones.

Ngāpuhi’s David Rankin today removed Heke’s bones from a cave near Pakaraka in the Mid North to a temporary location in Kaikohe. Mr Tau said that David Rankin had every right to remove the bones as the senior line of whakapapa (genealogy) in Hone Heke’s whanau.

Mr Tau said while he supports moving the bones from their current site, under threat from nearby housing development, a hui of all Ngāpuhi was needed to determine a final resting place for this Ngapuhi Rangatira.

“This is not the first time Heke’s bones have been moved, but I want to ensure it’s the last time they have to be relocated,” said Mr Tau.

“Heke is a prominent chief of Ngāpuhi and we need to treat his remains with that in mind.”
At the heart of this issue was a bigger picture said Mr Tau.

“Ngāpuhi has borne the brunt of some distasteful experiences through the removal of remains from Waimamaku, the Hokianga and Mataraua whereby our ancestors have ended up as trophies on someone’s mantelpiece overseas or worse still, in the dungeon of the Auckland museum.

“While the practice may have ceased, the trade in human remains is still alive overseas.”

Mr Tau said he expected many Ngāpuhi would welcome a hui on Heke’s remains and will work with Kaumatua and Kuia of relevant Hapu to bring that meeting to fruition.

ENDS

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