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Opihi Whanaungakore hearing: Ngāti Awa won t participate in desecration of sacred lands
18 Feb, 2021 07:51 PM
9 minutes to read
Whakatāne overlooking the ancient coastal urupa Opihi Whanaungakore in background . Photo / File
Charlotte is a Local Democracy Reporter based in Whakatane.
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 Whakatāne, 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.
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.
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