Ngāti Manuhiri exercise Mana Motuhake over taonga and rohe
Tuia ki te rangi, Tuia ki te papa
Tuia ki te moana, Tuia tātou
E rongo te pō, E rongo te ao
Haumi e, Hui e, Tāiki e!
The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Mana Whenua ō Tāmaki, have placed a rāhui from Motururu to Te Ārai ō Tāhuhu from 2:47pm, Monday 10 May 2021 and will be lifted at 2:47pm Monday 24 May 2021.
On the morning of the 10th of May, the Chairman of the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Terrence ‘Mook’ Hohneck was notified by Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation’s Marine Ranger’s of a whale beaching at Motururu, more commonly known as “Cape Rodney” or “Goat Island”. First on the scene at around 9:00 am, Mr. Hohneck gave a whaikorero and mihi to the deceased whale, followed by a waiata tautoko from the kaimahi ō Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust.
Members of Te Papa Atawhai’s Devonport and Warkworth teams arrived a couple of hours later and after careful deliberation it was decided by several kaumatua and Te Papa Atawhai’s technical team that the best practise would be to bury this fallen tupuna in an undisclosed location nearby.
Te Papa Atawhai’s experts examined the whale and determined it was an adult female Minke whale and measured at 8.4metres.
After a karakia she was gifted the name Rāhui. At 2:47 pm a rāhui was placed from Motururu to Te Ārai ō Tāhuhu until Monday 24 May 2021. A rāhui (physical and spiritual protection mechanism) sets a temporary prohibition around an area and limits access to acknowledge the loss. We ask that all visitors respect the rāhui and consider alternative areas to swim or fish while it is in place.
A local Warkworth company, Mason Contractors were organised by Te Papa Atawhai to transport Rāhui. Our Cultural Heritage Advisor Carmen Hetaraka who has experience in beaching’s explained to the contractors how to move her safely. They attached a strap to her tail, used a digger to carry her up the beach and onto the back of a truck.
Rāhui arrived to her place of rest at nightfall, and was buried under the cover of stars. Final karakia was done by Mr. Hohneck as Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust staff, whanau, Te Papa Atawhai Rangers, and Mason Contractors watched on respectfully.
Ngā mihi
The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
Contact Us
Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust
0508 MANUHIRI
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