Upcoming kaupapa.
180 years since Te Arai o Wairau
Join us in commemorating 180 years since Te Arai o Wairau (The Wairau Defence) and acknowledging 183 years since the signing of Te Tiriti in Wairau.
We will be gathering at Tuamarino on June 17th, the day that the incident took place.
The event will begin at 7am with a karakia and a kōrero, followed by kai at the Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Office.
We would be happy for you to join us if you can and share in this historically significant event for Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
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The June 17 1843 Wairau Affray was the first major conflict between Māori and Pākehā after the signing of Te Tiriti only three years before. It was also the first of many conflicts that were part of the New Zealand Wars | Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa.
Four Māori and 22 Pākehā were killed at Tuamarino when an armed party of New Zealand Company settlers from Nelson clashed with Ngāti Toa over land rights in the Wairau Valley.
Although Ngāti Toa had not sold any rights to the Wairau, The NZ Company went ahead with surveys of the valley with the intention of settling it with British settlers. Te Rauparaha, Te Rangihaeata and other senior Ngāti Toa chiefs travelled to the Wairau to evict the surveyors from their land. The eviction was peaceful with Ngāti Toa escorting the survey parties back to the Company's ship. There was no violence to the surveyors, but they burnt their temporary shelters, and destroyed their survey pegs and ranging rods.
When the survey party returned to Nelson, the local Magistrate, Henry Thompson, issued a warrant for the arrest of Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata, on charges of arson. Thompson and Arthur Wakefield, the NZ Company agent in Nelson, recruited forty-seven Special Constables and sailed to the Wairau to execute their warrant. Most of the recruits had no police or military training, and some had never handled a weapon.
On 17 June 1843 the NZ Company party formed on one side of the Tuamarino Stream, with Te Rauparaha and his party, including women and children, opposite. Despite pleas for peace by Rawiri Puaha, Wakefield and Thompson ordered their constabulary forward. To arrest Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata.
In confronting them about the charges of arson of the surveyors’ shelter, Te Rangihaeata is quoted as saying:
“Have I stolen a single nail, that you should come and imprison me? Have I injured a European, or touched anything in his tent, although pitched upon lands you are plundering me of? May I not do as I please with my own blanket? You, and your own people are the robbers, and not me; go and manacle them, I will not go with you.”
In the confusion and heat of the situation, Te Rongo, wife of Te Rangihaeata, was shot by one of the NZ Company party. The resulting skirmish saw several Special Constables killed and the remainder put to flight. Some who attempted to surrender were executed by Te Rangihaeata, as utu for the deaths of his wife and comrades.
Both Wakefield and Thompson, and another twenty settlers were killed. Four Ngāti Toa, including Te Rongo, were also killed in the skirmish.
This pakanga is remembered by Ngāti Toa as yet another example of British injustice. It came hot on the heels of the murder of another Ngāti Toa woman, Rangiawa Kuika, and her son. The felon, Dick Cook, was not convicted for her rape and murder, and only confirmed Ngāti Toa’s lack of trust in the British justice system.
Community Planting Day
To register for this event please email streamside.planting@poriruacity.govt.nz with your name and the number of people attending.
Join us on Saturday 27 May at Belmont Regional Park, Waitangira (behind Waihora Park) to plant native trees along the stream to restore the mauri of Te Awarua-o-Porirua.
This open event is an opportunity to meet and greet other community member while we do mahi towards restoring out streams.
Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa Rangatira are partners on this massive planting project. We are fortunate that the planting event in May is also supported by Greater Wellington Regional Council and Ngahere Korowai Collective.
Where: Belmont Regional Park, Waitangirua, behind Waihora Park
We will provide:
• Plants
• Kai
• Planting Tools and Equipment
• First Aid Trained Staff
• Introduction to planting
• Health and Safety Documentation and Briefing
• Hand Sanitiser
• Sunscreen
You will need to bring:
• Gumboots or sturdy closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy
• Warm and waterproof clothing
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Reusable water bottle
Event Info:
9.45–10am: Event sign-in begins at Porirua City Gazebo – Waihora Park
10–10.15am: Guest speakers
10.20–10.25am: Health and safety briefing and outline of the day
10.25–10.35am: Go to planting site and demonstration
10.35am–12.30pm: Planting
12.30–1pm: Kai available
1–2pm: Planting
Getting there:
Bus 220 stops on Warspite Avenue
Limited carparking available on site but free on-street parking is also available.
About the Riparian Programme
The aim of this programme is to plant the banks of our streams – plants are critical for the health of our waterways and harbour as they can maintain and improve water quality and enhance native biodiversity.
Benefits of streamside planting and fencing:
• Filters and traps nutrients, pathogens, and sediment from surrounding land
• Slows water down and can reduce the force of high flows
• Reduces stock damage to streambanks and streams
• Stabilises banks, reducing erosion
• Shades streams which lowers water temperatures, improving habitat for native fish and invertebrates
• Reduces the growth of nuisance weeds and algae
• Provides habitat where fish can spawn, including whitebait species
Provides food and habitat for invertebrates, fish, lizards, and birds, and corridors through the landscape
Ngā Manu Kōrero-ā-Rohe Kura Tuarua
On Friday 12th May 2023, Te Kura Māori o Porirua will be hosting Te Whakataetae Ngā Manu Kōrero-ā-Rohe mō ngā Kura Tuarua Te Whanganui-ā-Tara ki Otaki. The competition will be held at Takapūwāhia Marae in Porirua.
Kaumātua Hui
Our purpose: to tautoko community-based kaupapa by providing Māori perspective.
Meetings are held in the Old Wharekai at Takapūwāhia Marae - Corner of Te Hiko and Ngatitoa Street.
Meetings are open to the Public (all adults) however, there may be kaunihera only time for the first hour, where needed.
Shellfish Testing
If there are any whānau from Te Tauihu who can assist or wish to come along, please contact Robert.McClean@ngatitoa.iwi.nz
Te Ara o Raukawa
This wānanga aims to connect with our coastal and marine environment at Te Awarua o Porirua, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Kapiti.
Our Taiao is threatened by climate change. We are not retreating, but advancing to ensure we continue our kaitiaki responsibilities as mana whenua.
This wānanga is open to all whānau but priority is given to those iwi members of Ngāti Toa from Te Tauihu - to register click here.
Housing Hui
We are holding a Ngāti Toa Housing Expo next week, to provide further information about our residential development at View Rd.
The evening will be LIVESTREAMED. We wont be running a live Q&A but you can submit any pātai by email to kainga@ngatitoa.iwi.nz
Wānanga: Toi
This wānanga covers two art forms, Taonga Puoro and Whāriki.
Learn about taonga puoro and Whāriki through an introductory workshop with renowned musician, Tamihana Katene and experienced weaver and artist, Missy Broughton.
There’s still time to register - click here to register.
Village Emergency Planning Hui
We are holding a Ngāti Toa Housing Expo next week, to provide further information about our residential development at View Rd.
The evening will be LIVESTREAMED. We wont be running a live Q&A but you can submit any pātai by email to kainga@ngatitoa.iwi.nz
