Blessing for p¯a under harbour bridge
As early morning traffic roared, a crowd gathered beneath the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday for the dawn blessing of a newly restored historic pa¯ site.
Te Onewa was a major headland pa¯ site that was occupied for many centuries. The site and surrounding area was sold to the Government in 1841 and subdivided into residential lots.
The restoration of the area, now under the bridge at the Northcote end, has been 10 years in the making, and cost $2.5 million to complete.
The project included construction of a timber walkway leading to a new pou and site-specific planting to beautify the area and prevent cliff erosion, as well as the replacement of a pedestrian bridge across the defensive ditch of the pa¯ site.
The centrepiece is the striking pou whenua, a carving from hard totara, unveiled at the ceremony.
Carver Reuben Kirkwood said the pou takes the form of a waka, acting as a visual reminder of the gods, future leaders, and the community members in between.
‘‘Who we are, and these places around us that we love and live with,’’ Kirkwood said.
In the 6am darkness, the chairman of Nga¯ i Tai ki Ta¯ maki, James Brown, guided elected members, neighbours and project shareholders around the area.
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford said the ceremony was giving respect to a special area and the ancient history of that area.
Twyford acknowledged Kaipa¯tiki Local Board member Lindsay Waugh’s ‘‘relentless pushing’’ for the upgrade project for a decade.
Brown thanked Twyford for attending the ceremony and for upholding the tikanga of the site.
It has been home to centuries of human settlement, and the ceremony and unveiling the pou was a reminder of how important that was, Brown said.
Project leaders Auckland Transport and NZTA were commended for their communication with local iwi.
Brown said that, while there may still be some differences of opinions, mana whenua no longer feel like after-thoughts.
Just before breakfast and coffee, Adrian Noda of Nga¯ti Wha¯tua o Kaipara thanked the crowd for getting up at dawn and being a part of something historic.
‘‘The story of our nation continues to be told and must be participated in,’’ Noda said.