Music, h¯angi against seabed mining
Standing at a seabed mining protest on a Whanganui beach Jacq Dwyer and Debbie NgarewaPacker made a plan.
The two South Taranaki women decided they would hold a family event to raise money for the high court appeal Nga¯ti Ruanui is putting forward against seabed mining off the Taranaki coast.
‘‘They’re the only South Taranaki organisation that are putting an appeal in,’’ Dwyer said.
‘‘So they’re our tribe really and we want to support them and give them some financial help.’’
Dwyer, Ngarewa-Packer, Te Ru¯nanga o Nga¯ti Ruanui Kaiarataki, and others have worked together to organise the Save our Seas Fundraising Concert featuring Taranaki band The Slacks with a ha¯ ngi to follow.
Dwyer said she saw The Slacks play during the Taranaki Arts Festival and decided to approach them.
‘‘I said ‘I love you, and I think you guys would be fantastic for Pa¯tea’ and asked if they would want to be involved.
‘‘I said, ‘look just have a think about it and I’ll get back to you’, and they’re like, ‘no, we have, we’re doing it’.’’
Ngarewa-Packer said Nga¯ti Ruanui has been trying to protect the Taranaki coast for almost four years now.
‘‘We have had overwhelming support in our endeavours to protect our environment since the first application from TransTasman Recourses in 2014,’’ she said.
‘‘This amazing support continues now with the concert to help fundraise for the costs of the appeal that Nga¯ti Ruanui will incur.’’
The fundraising concert is taking place from 1pm on Sunday November 26 in the Pa¯tea Area School hall.
‘‘We want something that the whole community can come to, but also not cost everyone too much,’’ Dwyer said.
That’s why the concert will cost $20 for adults and $10 for children.
The ha¯ ngi will be ready around 3pm.
‘‘If people don’t want to come to the concert, they can just book in the ha¯ ngi, and come and get it,’’ Dwyer said. ‘‘There’s something for everyone really.’’
She hoped for a sunny day. ‘‘That way people can just spill out on to the court yard, and people can sort of have a chat and show their support for Nga¯ti Ruanui.’’