The ancient Opihi Whanaungakore urupa is still used today. CHARLOTTE JONES / LDR
Iwi have made it clear they will not be participating in the “desecration” of their sacred, ancestral lands. At the final day of the hearing into the granting of a resource consent for a residential subdivision next to an ancient urupa in Whakatane, tangata whenua were adamant they would not take part in any accidental discovery protocol if koiwi (bones) were found during development – to do so would sever their whakapapa to the land and make a mockery of their role as kaitiaki, they said. Tanagata whenua are trying to stop Whakatāne District Council from granting consent for 240 residential sections and a 250-unit retirement village on land they consider to be wahi tapu and adjacent to the ancient coastal urupa Opihi Whanaungakore, which is still in use today.
Runanga
New-zealand-general
New-zealand
Whakatane
Ngati-awa
Whakatane-district
Whakatane-river
Orini-stream
Waiariki
Whakatane-borough
Bay-of-plenty
Craig-batchelar