Milestone footpath for community
Located between Moerewa and Kawakawa, Taumatamakuku is a community with a distinct history and identity, something contractors discovered when building a new footpath there.
The new 460-metre-long path traces Taumatamakuku Crescent, a loop road that effectively encircles the settlement. Ventia Contract Manager – FNDC South Maintenance Jamie Kitzen says this job was unlike any other because of how welcoming the locals were. Roddy Pihema was born and raised in Taumatamakuku and is now a member of the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board. He says the settlement was rarely recognised as a distinct community by past councils. He explains: “This was more than just a footpath. It runs deeper than that. It's a big step for the community.”
Those living in Taumatamakuku have a special pride in being kaitiaki (guardians) of this place. According to Roddy, when World War II ended, returned servicemen and people from across the district came for employment at the freezing works at the edge of Moerewa. With housing in short supply in Moerewa, workers lived in disused American army barracks and transit huts nearby. The moko (grandchildren) of those who first settled what has now become Taumatamakuku are fiercely proud of their history. From 1947 until the late 1980s, Bay of Islands County Council administered the area. Roddy says that during that time, community infrastructure and social needs were often overlooked.
The footpath is the first of several placemaking projects now planned. The 93 cubic metres of concrete poured to create the path has begun a journey of recognition for the community.
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