Kaituna Cut opened with a tapu lifting
The Kaituna Cut was officially opened in 1927. “It was said that tangata whenua as well as Pakeha were looking forward to this cut, as iwi had lost their ancient fishing beds due to the river mouth having moved, and Pakeha farmers were having terrible problems with constant flooding of their land.
“The cut was designed to drain water from the river straight in to the sea once more as it had done once upon a time. The photo shows the tapu being lifted by leading rangatira and priests in the launch.
“Following a boom from the old cannon (possibly belonging to the Tapsell family), the launch, along with two others, moved to the river mouth, then out to sea, where they all turned and moved back through into the cut.”
This information is from the book Lower Kaituna River and Te Tumu : the Ford family history from 1907-2008, available from Western
Bay of Plenty District Libraries.
■ This photograph has been supplied by Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Community Archives team. Information accompanying the photograph is, to the best of the team’s knowledge, accurate. However, it may well be that there are inadvertent omissions or errors and anyone who might be in possession of more information is welcome to send details to news@tepuketimes.co.nz.