Following the recent major weather events that hit Tauranga Moana we have made the decision to postpone our Hui ā-Tau that was set to take place in March at Maungatapu marae.

Tauranga Moana is navigating grief and continue to lead in the recovery of whānau and whenua following these tragic events. In heeding ngā tohu o te taiao and centring the emerging needs of iwi members, to continue with our event at this time would not be tika.

Tauranga Moana remains in a state of emergency in the face of devastating landslides and lives lost. We look to these words shared by Ngati Ranginui: 

“Mauao is a sacred mountain to Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga and Waitaha Iwi. It holds our stories, our whakapapa, and the spiritual threads that bind our people across generations. With this tragedy, those who have passed now become part of the sacred fabric of our maunga. Their wairua will forever rest beneath the mantle of Mauao, protected and embraced for all time.”

We stand in aroha with Tauranga Moana and those most impacted by these tragic events. ‘Kia Tirikawa te Tu’, we remain unwavering in our support of hapū and iwi leadership in this moment.

Kia tahuri atu ngā whakaaro ki te iwi nui i te pō, kua hāoa e Te Kupenga o Taramainuku. Kua iri ki te Hao o Rua tukuna rātou kia haere, kia whetūrangitia koutou. Ko te ara ki ngā whetū ki a rātou, ko te ara o te whenua ki a tātou e tau nei. E ko koia e ara e!