The 80-year-old said kaumātua have long treated the area as sacred. “There are burial caves across the road from us and one of the poles is going to be within metres of them,” she said. “That whole area across the road from the marae was also a huge battle site. It’s very sacred.”
SUPPLIED
The Pokaiwhenua Stream and surrounding area between Arapuni and Putāruru is sacred to local Maori. “Sixty years ago my father-in-law told all of us to never go across. The Mangakaretu whānau are aware of this and treat the area with deep respect.