Karakia marks expansion of Hereheretau Station

Representatives of Ngā hapū o Whakakī and Ngāti Rakaipaaka, the Māori Soldiers Trust, Hereheretau Station, and Te Tumu Paeroa, gathered at the beginning of July for a karakia whakawātea on whenua near Nuhaka, to mark the purchase of 526 hectares for this significant sheep and beef station.

The karakia acknowledged an important milestone in the acquisition of Tangitere-Travencore and its return to unified Māori stewardship under the Māori Soldiers Trust.

Māori Soldiers Trust Deputy Chair and Māori Trustee, Dr Charlotte Severne says the purchase will help carry Hereheretau forward, and resource the Māori Soldiers Trust to continue to honour the legacy of the Sir Āpirana Ngata scholarships.

“This purchase secures an important future for Hereheretau while strengthening the Māori Soldiers Trust's ability to continue supporting Māori achievement through initiatives such as the Sir Apirana Ngata Scholarship. It is an investment in both whenua and people."

_{Kaumātua from Whakakī Nui A Rua and Ngāti Rakaipaaka prepare for the karakia whakawātea at Tangitere-Travencore}

 

Puata Tuahine (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hinepua, Ngāi Te Ipu) was one of the mana whenua representatives in attendance leading the karakia. The Whakakī Nui-A-Rua representative says it is important that appropriate Māori protocols are observed, especially now the whenua is in Māori stewardship.

“Ko ngā karakia, hei whakawātea, hei akiaki, hei poipoi hoki i ngā tāngata hou, hei hīkoi anō te whenua nei. Kia whai ake ngā tikanga a o tātou tīpuna ki a mātou nei,” says Puata.

The karakia whakawātea helped clear and prepare the whenua spiritually, creating space to acknowledge its past, present and future, and to ground the day in tikanga and whakapapa.

Tangitere-Travencore had previously been owned by the Dalziel whānau. Prior to them, it was owned by the Fookes and Wratt families. The acquisition is part of a longer story of whakapapa, stewardship and collective responsibility, honouring those who came before while creating opportunities for those yet to come.

_{[L-R] Julian Sewell and Kemp Soloman from the Māori Soldier's Trust. Kemp says, " It was good to acknowledge those who have occupied the land previously.”}

Māori Soldiers Trust representative for Tākitimu Kemp Solomon (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hinepua, Ngāi Te Ipu) believes it is important to look back, in order to move forward.

“It was good to acknowledge those who have occupied the land previously,” says Kemp. “Those kaimahi that have been on the land. It was also good to acknowledge all those other things that have occurred on the land. Particularly, the karakia at the end.”

With the purchase now complete, attention turns to the opportunities the whenua will create for generations to come, strengthening Hereheretau Station’s future, supporting the growth of the Sir Āpirana Ngata Scholarship, and reinforcing the enduring connection between the whenua and its people.