Hokianga Te Tiriti o Waitangi Commemorations Focus on Future

Hokianga Te Tiriti o Waitangi Commemorations Focus on Future

Hokianga will host a full weekend of Te Tiriti and community focused activities from the 12-14th February as part of their annual commemoration of Hokianga rangatira signing Te Tiriti at Mangungu on the 12th of February 1840.

The programme will begin with a 5.00am pre-dawn karakia at the Hokianga Harbour Entrance, Arai te Uru named after one of Kupe’s legendary taniwha, and will continue with commemorations, mihi and morning church service at the Heritage New Zealand Mangungu Mission at 8.30am, with Kai to follow.

A wananga will also convene in Pakanae on Saturday to start the process of building a future vision for Hokianga, and a hikoi up the ancestral pa of Whiria will complete the weekend on Sunday.

Ngati Korokoro representative, Warren Moetara believes local hapu leadership teams have a key role to play in achieving the best platform for the future of Hokianga. “The Mangungu signing of Te Tiriti was the largest signing of the document and included some of the most well-known, forthright and outspoken rangatira of the time. When you look at the depth of current and emerging leadership who come from Hokianga today, we’re blessed with the same potential and are in a perfect position to build a future vision that will unite and uplift our people and communities, and endure for generations to come.”

Wananga coordinator Piripi Moore says, “The goal to have all of Hokianga working as one has always been the vision. What better time than during this commemoration to demonstrate that we can do it together. This wananga is about providing a forum for a wider network of Hokianga leadership to get involved in the settlement process than we’ve currently seen or heard from. When you look at the skill sets from our region, Hokianga has one of the strongest and most experienced teams in regional and national development for Maori and in the Treaty Settlement field.”

Mr Moore adds, “This wananga is an opportunity to engage with our whole community in a constructive discussion about the potential in Hokianga and opportunities to improve the outlook for our people and mokopuna for generations to come.”

Hokianga whānau and hapū are invited to attend the weekend of activities. Further Hokianga wānanga will be called throughout the year to advance a collective Hokianga position and vision for the region.

The programme for the weekend is:

Friday 12th February

0500 – Arai Te Uru: Hokianga gathers at Arai Te Uru for Karakia

0830 – Mangungu: Mihimihi / Morning service at Mangungu Mission House

1000 to 1200 – Mangungu: Kai / Whakawhanaungatanga

Saturday 13th February

0900 – 1800 Maraeroa Marae, Pakanae: Hokianga wananga to workshop four key settlement areas:

1. Hokianga and Ngapuhi aspirations and vision.
2. Constitutional considerations from stage one hearings.
3. Regional economic development for Hokianga.
4. Hokianga aspirations for a Post Settlement Governance Settlement for Hokianga and Ngapuhi.

Sunday 14th February

0800 to 1100 – Maraeroa Marae, Pakanae: Hokianga wananga debrief and planning session.

1100 to 1300 – Whiria, Pakanae: Hikoi the Pa.

ENDS

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