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We got there whanau
(go to http://gclode.zenfolio.com/p317690734 to view photo's)
The day dawned bright and clear, Tamatea arikinui went to Ihaia's place to set the scene around 7am. Singing their waiata that talks about all our hapu points of significance.
9am saw around 100-150 people gathered at the Marae. Whanau from Whanganui, Hastings, Napier, Waipukurau and Waipawa as well as Tamatea and all our supporters and friends. There was a family from Napier, Gary Clode who has taken photo's that will be posted to the Marae websites. Gary has been camping at Blackhead for some 30 years. And other local pakeha friends.
Most importantly we were accompanied by our Kaumatua Uncle Pop and Aunties Raina, Ahi and Lily. Plus our International Indigenous negotiator Moana Jackson joined our Hapu for the second weekend in a row. He had come to Aunty Lil's 80th birthday celebration last weekend. Learn t about our intention to hikoi the paper road and came back to join us. A true honour for Ngati Kere on such an important weekend as Waitangi weekend.
Our Chairman Ahitana opened our hui and David did our karakia and spoke to us about our long association with Parimahu. Reminding us that we were the direct descendants of those who had fished and gathered food for over some 800 years. What an awesome history we have. Dick set the ground rules ( paper road by laws) and off we went.
Tamatea joined us to the gate where they sang the waiata, did their haka which is about our men going to war to fight for God and Country only to come home to find the biggest fight was under our noses. ( my words) If you want the real thing be at the Regional Comps Te Aute College March 13th 9am. Then Ihaia did the karakia to send us on our way.
Trucks, 4 wheel cars, motor bikes and walkers. With our flags, Rangatiratanga flag and our Iwi flag and our own Ngarangiwhakaupoko flag flying grandly from various poles.
It was a leap in faith as no one was actually sure where the best route was and going from one marker to another proved difficult. And it didnt take long to get stuck!!! First up, then a big hill and across the flat to the tree's. Getting through them tested the skills and we had to leave two cars behind at that point. However on we pressed, we encountered Frank Gordon wiring gates and David and Moana went to speak with him. Mike came and joined them while we pressed on. At the Waikaraka stream we detoured over the farm bridge and outside of the area of the proposed township we stopped for lunch. Actually we had to pause as we had spread out abit and needed to get together again.
We pressed on across some pretty rough terrain and finally reached the beach. And yes there is a fence right along the foreshore with an electric fence attached to it. The paper road maker was on the fence line with a sign saying this is a public road with no opening. That in its self seemed crazy after passing through 6, 12ft gates. Back along the fence was a walkway gate. The bikes where able to get through there. I can tell you most of us where filled with dismay to actually encounter the fence line and we felt the shut out emotion greatly.
But that didnt last long, we expressed our disgust, at the CHB DC feeling like a pawn in a game, with the Regional Council who with the farmer built the fence. Or contributed to it. And of course the farmer. The good point is that it does denote his boundary. Which is helpful to those who have had conversations with Frank where by he has claimed to the low water mark. I might remind you that according to Franks letter to the District Council, he claimed the Regional Council has declared it a non camping site. I dont know if they can do that, and as one of the many who have camped there as a child find that thought less then positive.
Once we were rid of our feelings, we all climbed the fence and went for a swim.(luckily it wasn't on) But what joy, to swim at Blackhead again. It's a much better swimming spot then Te Paerahi. And at high tide is a joy. Amid memories of years of swimming there. One really happy memory is of Uncle Ru driving Uncle Charlie (no legs) into the water on the back of a trailer.!!! And of those years of camping there as families with everyone else. Even the year we had a TV in the big camp so everyone could watch some game. Aunty Polly with her washing machine!!! Jim and Alan with street lights. Hoko building a our 4 star lodge!!! And those card games with Papa Frank and his sons, and the big fish Pop caught, and eating paua and kina for the pakeha's to take photo's of us. This was before they discovered what a delicacy paua was. When they only ate the crayfish tails!!!Gosh doesnt that make me old. But all those times flooded back.
We stayed there some hours and then made our way back along the track. People where now in a hurry to get off to other things so Dick asked us all to pause and listen to David and Moana who had spoken with Frank Gordon.
They affirmed that he is pretty “pissed off” at us, and with the Council. They think we should continue discussions to resolve all our issues and start by thinking about what we want in the first instance, and what we might do/ give to gain it.
It was agreed we should take time and met at 9am Sunday at the Pa. Which we did.
The resolution from the Sunday meeting was to keep using the paper road. To appoint a group to follow up with the issues, like getting a gate at the beach end etc. and to continue the discussions with the Farmer and the Council and report back in a month's time.
The group is
Ahitana Hawea, Bevan Tipene, Haana Wilcox, and David Tipene-Leach with Moana Jackson as required. Moana agreed to be involved.
To this end I have completed my role as given to me at the last Trustee meeting (keep everyone informed)
Kia kaha koutou.
Marina
(go to http://gclode.zenfolio.com/p317690734 to view photo's)
The day dawned bright and clear, Tamatea arikinui went to Ihaia's place to set the scene around 7am. Singing their waiata that talks about all our hapu points of significance.
9am saw around 100-150 people gathered at the Marae. Whanau from Whanganui, Hastings, Napier, Waipukurau and Waipawa as well as Tamatea and all our supporters and friends. There was a family from Napier, Gary Clode who has taken photo's that will be posted to the Marae websites. Gary has been camping at Blackhead for some 30 years. And other local pakeha friends.
Most importantly we were accompanied by our Kaumatua Uncle Pop and Aunties Raina, Ahi and Lily. Plus our International Indigenous negotiator Moana Jackson joined our Hapu for the second weekend in a row. He had come to Aunty Lil's 80th birthday celebration last weekend. Learn t about our intention to hikoi the paper road and came back to join us. A true honour for Ngati Kere on such an important weekend as Waitangi weekend.
Our Chairman Ahitana opened our hui and David did our karakia and spoke to us about our long association with Parimahu. Reminding us that we were the direct descendants of those who had fished and gathered food for over some 800 years. What an awesome history we have. Dick set the ground rules ( paper road by laws) and off we went.
Tamatea joined us to the gate where they sang the waiata, did their haka which is about our men going to war to fight for God and Country only to come home to find the biggest fight was under our noses. ( my words) If you want the real thing be at the Regional Comps Te Aute College March 13th 9am. Then Ihaia did the karakia to send us on our way.
Trucks, 4 wheel cars, motor bikes and walkers. With our flags, Rangatiratanga flag and our Iwi flag and our own Ngarangiwhakaupoko flag flying grandly from various poles.
It was a leap in faith as no one was actually sure where the best route was and going from one marker to another proved difficult. And it didnt take long to get stuck!!! First up, then a big hill and across the flat to the tree's. Getting through them tested the skills and we had to leave two cars behind at that point. However on we pressed, we encountered Frank Gordon wiring gates and David and Moana went to speak with him. Mike came and joined them while we pressed on. At the Waikaraka stream we detoured over the farm bridge and outside of the area of the proposed township we stopped for lunch. Actually we had to pause as we had spread out abit and needed to get together again.
We pressed on across some pretty rough terrain and finally reached the beach. And yes there is a fence right along the foreshore with an electric fence attached to it. The paper road maker was on the fence line with a sign saying this is a public road with no opening. That in its self seemed crazy after passing through 6, 12ft gates. Back along the fence was a walkway gate. The bikes where able to get through there. I can tell you most of us where filled with dismay to actually encounter the fence line and we felt the shut out emotion greatly.
But that didnt last long, we expressed our disgust, at the CHB DC feeling like a pawn in a game, with the Regional Council who with the farmer built the fence. Or contributed to it. And of course the farmer. The good point is that it does denote his boundary. Which is helpful to those who have had conversations with Frank where by he has claimed to the low water mark. I might remind you that according to Franks letter to the District Council, he claimed the Regional Council has declared it a non camping site. I dont know if they can do that, and as one of the many who have camped there as a child find that thought less then positive.
Once we were rid of our feelings, we all climbed the fence and went for a swim.(luckily it wasn't on) But what joy, to swim at Blackhead again. It's a much better swimming spot then Te Paerahi. And at high tide is a joy. Amid memories of years of swimming there. One really happy memory is of Uncle Ru driving Uncle Charlie (no legs) into the water on the back of a trailer.!!! And of those years of camping there as families with everyone else. Even the year we had a TV in the big camp so everyone could watch some game. Aunty Polly with her washing machine!!! Jim and Alan with street lights. Hoko building a our 4 star lodge!!! And those card games with Papa Frank and his sons, and the big fish Pop caught, and eating paua and kina for the pakeha's to take photo's of us. This was before they discovered what a delicacy paua was. When they only ate the crayfish tails!!!Gosh doesnt that make me old. But all those times flooded back.
We stayed there some hours and then made our way back along the track. People where now in a hurry to get off to other things so Dick asked us all to pause and listen to David and Moana who had spoken with Frank Gordon.
They affirmed that he is pretty “pissed off” at us, and with the Council. They think we should continue discussions to resolve all our issues and start by thinking about what we want in the first instance, and what we might do/ give to gain it.
It was agreed we should take time and met at 9am Sunday at the Pa. Which we did.
The resolution from the Sunday meeting was to keep using the paper road. To appoint a group to follow up with the issues, like getting a gate at the beach end etc. and to continue the discussions with the Farmer and the Council and report back in a month's time.
The group is
Ahitana Hawea, Bevan Tipene, Haana Wilcox, and David Tipene-Leach with Moana Jackson as required. Moana agreed to be involved.
To this end I have completed my role as given to me at the last Trustee meeting (keep everyone informed)
Kia kaha koutou.
Marina
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