‘The dual heritage is us’

between the two cultures. ‘‘He was one of us,’’ she said.

As visitors disembarked from the Endeavour and the four other vessels in the fleet, the women held their position in a wero, or challenge, establishing whether the visitors were ‘‘friends or foes’’.

A po¯whiri welcoming ceremony took place, led by representatives of four tangata whenua iwi; Nga¯ti Apa ki te Ra¯ To¯, Nga¯ ti Kuia, Rangita¯ ne o Wairau and Te A¯ tiawa o Te Waka-a-ma¯ ui.

Rangita¯ne trustee Jeremy Macleod said top of the south iwi had infused different cultural protocols in the po¯ whiri, or welcome.

In the po¯whiri, he said the spirits of past ancestors were brought to Meretoto in the form of the stones that had been gifted. He acknowledged Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene as the ‘‘lone soldier of the government’’ at the commemorations, noting the absence of the Prime Minister, Governor General and Ma¯ori Crown Relations Minister.

He poked fun, saying they might be lunching with Prince Charles and Camilla who were touring New Zealand this week. ‘‘It would have been nice for Charles and Camilla to be here today to meet the descendants of those people who first met Cook 250 years ago. We are the living remnants of those people that were here,’’ Macleod said.

Endeavour captain Frank Allica said they gifted the Te Tau Ihu iwi a piece of timber from the replica Endeavour. It was embellished with pieces of rigging, bound together with a twine, which he said represented the two cultures.

‘‘It’s the epitome of what we’re trying to do.’’

To¯ taranui 250 Trust chairman Raymond Smith echoed that sentiment as he spoke after lunch, saying ‘‘the dual heritage is us’’.

Rangita¯ne kauma¯tua elder Gemma Mckinney said the day was about healing and moving forward together.

Kiri Pounamu Nepia, 20, was paddling in the Nga¯ ti Apa waka along with her whanau. They had only launched the waka two weeks earlier, where they had learned to find their balance and paddle in unity, she said.

Her view on Tuia 250, was one of strength and appreciation for their culture.