Kaumatua of Ngāti Whātua and Tainui descent hold powhiri to support Ōwairaka tree protection group

From left to right: Rangi McLean, Martin Cooper and Pouroto Ngaropo

MEDIA RELEASE - 13 January 2020

Issued by: Ngāti Awa ki Te Awa O Te Atua in conjunction with Honour The Maunga

Kaumatua of Ngāti Whātua and Tainui descent have held a powhiri to support the Honour The Maunga community group’s efforts to prevent 345 exotic trees from being felled on Ōwairaka / Mt Albert.

Kaumatua Martin Cooper of Te Kei O Te Waka O Tainui / Ngāti Whātua descendent and Kaumatua Rangi McLean (Mataatua / Tainui) extended Honour The Maunga an invitation to attend a powhiri to open a Unity wananga held on the maunga over this weekend.

Tainui Kuia Rangitahi Waikato karaangaed the group onto the maunga. The wananga was called by Pouroto Ngaropo, Chairman, Ngāti Awa Ki Te Awa O Te Atua, Te Tāwera Hapū.

The wananga coincided with the two-month anniversary of Honour The Maunga’s round-the-clock occupation of Ōwairaka / Mt Albert in response to Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s plans to fell 345 healthy, mature exotic trees there in the five weeks from 11 November 2019.

The group’s mission is to honour the maunga Ōwairaka / Mt Albert and all the life-forms she supports by saving the trees – something the group has so far achieved. Having mana whenua formally welcome the group onto the maunga counters criticisms that its tree protection actions are culturally insensitive.

In addition to expressing concern about the environmental consequences of clear-felling around 2000 exotic trees off 14 volcanic cones under the Authority’s control, both kaumatua expressed shock and anger that Tūpuna Maunga Authority never formally consulted anyone – not even mana whenua – about its intentions.

Mr Ngaropo called the wananga because his hapu is directly descended from Wairaka, from whom the maunga is named. “We are spiritually there to look after and protect the mauri of the mountain, which is named after our ancient ancestor Wairaka who lived there more than 800 years ago.

This involves protecting the maunga’s flora, fauna and all its lifeforms,” he says.

Honour The Maunga spokeswoman Anna Radford says: “It was a true honour to be formally welcomed, supported and to receive validation for our own deeply held spiritual connections with Ōwairaka.

These connections and beliefs very much align with the Māori spiritual beliefs shared with us during this weekend’s wananga. “There are always going to be a range of opinions on a significant issue such as this but, the longer we stand in support of Ōwairaka and her trees, the more support we are getting from all quarters.”

Mr Ngaropo agrees, saying key kaumatua he had spoken with from Ngāti Whātua and the Kīngitanga in Auckland had also expressed concern about the Authority’s proposed actions. “I encourage the Authority to find a way of achieving its goals in a manner that respects the maunga and her environment and fosters positive and constructive partnerships with all communities.”