Rangita¯ ne’s special gift to Aotearoa
Pu¯ kaha reserve had previously been returned to iwi during Treaty settlement
This is a very special day that demonstrates the true foresight, generosity and goodwill of the people of Rangita¯ ne. Tracey Collis, Tararua District Mayor
The forests of Pu¯kaha Mount Bruce were gifted to the people of Aotearoa at a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister on Saturday, May 1. It was an act of generosity by the iwi of Rangita¯ne o Takaki-nui-a-Rua and Rangita¯ne o Wairarapa, Tararua District mayor, Tracey Collis said.
A special welcome was extended to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, MP Meka Whaitiri, Wairarapa MP Kieren McAnulty, mayors Lyn Patterson of Masterton, Greg Lang of Carterton and Alex Beijen of South Wairarapa, Sonya Rimene, Chair of Tu Mai Ra Trust, Matua Manahi Paewai and Aunty Hanatia by Collis.
The Crown had previously returned Pu¯ kaha/ Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre and Scenic Reserve to Rangita¯ne in a Treaty of Waitangi settlement signed in August 2016.
The reserves had a combined area of about 950 hectares — a small section of the great forest Te Tapere nui o Whatonga that stretched from Masterton to north of Dannevirke, known as 70-Mile Bush.
Wha¯tonga was one of three chiefs on board the Kurahaupo¯ waka that journeyed across the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Wha¯ tonga was known as a great explorer and on an expedition, he paddled up the Manawatu¯ River and at Te Apiti climbed to the top and on the eastern side, he saw a great unbroken forest (Te Tapere nui o Wha¯tonga) 26 generations ago. It means the great district or food basket.
The settlement land had been vested in the Rangita¯ne Tu Mai Ra Trust.
Trust Chair Sonya Rimene, spoke at Saturday’s ceremony of the importance of the Treaty settlement to rebuilding the iwi.
“The discovery of moa bones recently at Te Ahu a Turanga — the Manawatu-Tararua Highway — showed the nation the significance of our area and this great forest,” said Collis.
“On that day I met with some of our tamariki in council and we discussed moa, the forest, the birds and the pain of losing the huia and how important it was to protect our special birds in breeding programmes that Pu¯kaha offers.
“The Tararua District was formed just 32
years ago by amalgamation. When you are split, it takes many years to reach a oneness to work together and to join together.
“Pu¯kaha is a place that brings us together with a purpose — conservation.
“Pu¯kaha is the number one biodiversity area in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region and Te Apiti sits closely behind.
“The Tararua District is a land of ranges, biodiversity, beauty and food production.
“It was joy and celebration in hearing the words ‘Pu¯ kaha is yours once more’ from the Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy at the gifting of Pu¯kaha to Rangita¯ne o Takaki-nui-a-Rua and Rangita¯ne o Wairarapa from the Crown just 12 months ago.
“We join together on this monumental day, when the people of Rangita¯ne gift Pu¯ kaha back to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
“This is a very special day that demonstrates the true foresight, generosity and goodwill of the people of Rangita¯ne,” she said.
It was Prime Minister Ardern’s second visit to Pu¯kaha Mount Bruce.
She previously visited in 2019 when Rangita¯ne o Wairarapa invited her to name a kiwi that was about to hatch.
Ardern chose the name Koha Te Aroha, “a gift of love”, in recognition of the generosity of Rangita¯ne.