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Ngatiwai Trust Board,
National Whale Recovery Wananga, Ruakaka
20-22 June 2007
The bones of 19 pilot whales that were flensed and buried after last year's mass stranding along Bream Bay will be given away at a wananga at Ruakaka, south of Whangarei, this week (22 June 2007).
Over a hundred people are expected to take part in the three day gathering.
Ngatiwai Trust Board Manager, Addie Smith says the mass stranding was a relationship builder for the iwi and hapu.
Volunteers were given the honour of naming a whale, and now have the chance to take the bones they named back to their tribe.
"One of the whales flensed during November last year was named Te Rangaimarie to indicate the peaceful scene at the mass stranding. The activities surrounding the whales have helped to unite not only the local hapu, but also hapu across the north.
"People come down from Ngati Kuri in the Far North, Pukepoto just out of Kaitaia, Ngati Rehia from Kerikeri and Matauri, and Te Mahurehure from Hokianga to help the Ngatiwai Resource Management Unit to assist Patuharakeke with the mass stranding," says Ms Smith.
"The entire wananga is being held at Takahiwai Marae where the work crews stayed during the mass stranding.
"The Ngatiwai Trust Board is glad we can assist with managing the whales' remains. But the decision to give the whale bones to the people who came to help was made by the local people of Patuharakeke."
The idea of holding the Wananga during the Mäori New Year is not a coincidence says Mrs Smith.
"The Matariki heralds the whale migration," she says. "The Matariki is a time of building relationships, and consolidating relationships. The Matariki is also a time for Kotahitanga, bringing families, sub-tribes and tribes together to celebrate the start of a new year of activity in the gardens, spawning in the seas and rivers and the shortest day of the year that leads to the days getting longer.
"The decision to hold the wananga to bring people together to learn more about the Maori appreciation of whales during the Matariki gives us an auspicious start to the new year."
The Wananga will celebrate some significant milestones for Mäori.
"As far as we are aware, the first designated area to flense stranded whales will be dedicated," says Addie Smith.
The site in front of Semenoff's sand supplies has been approved by the Department of Conservation. But the local hapu will decide on the kaupapa of the site.
"It is the first time Iwi resource managers will get together to discuss and implement strategies for future whale recovery cases.
"It is the first time whale bone has ever been given out to other iwi and hapu organisations from the Ngatiwai area," she says. "The volunteers that assisted with flensing will decide which authority within its own tribal boundaries will act as guardian over the treasures," says Mrs Smith.
"And of course, this is the largest flensing in Ngatiwai Trust Board history that I can recall," she said.
For interviews, please contact the Media Convenor, Hiria Rakete, 021 2040 762 before 5pm Monday to Friday.
Media Release: 19 June 2007.