Te Whanau ā Rangiwhakaahu Hapū intend to place a rāhui over Te Wai o Te Taniwha (Mermaid Pools) and the access route over the Rangitapu headland at Matapouri Bay to restore the mauri of the taonga.

While the Rahui is in place Te Whanau a Rangiwhakaahu hapū will continue to work with key stakeholder groups including community and government agencies to develop an enduring plan to manage and protect the environmental, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of Te Wai o Te Taniwha and protect the wāhi tapu upon the Rangitapu headland.

Te Whanau ā Rangiwhakaahu would like to acknowledge the efforts of community lead groups and hau-kainga initiatives such as Kapa Kaitiaki, Te Wairua o Te Moananui - Ocean Spirit and others who have generated an awareness to the plight of our taonga.

We are grateful for the ongoing support offered by our community, community leaders, councillors, iwi and government agencies. Te Whanau ā Rangiwhakaahu Hapū Trust will host a public meeting on our marae with an open invitation to all who have a connection to Te Wai o Te Taniwha to ensure that this intrinsic part of our cultural, spiritual and ecological heritage is protected mō tatou, a, mō ngā uri ā muri ake nei – that is, for ourselves and for our children after us.

© Scoop Media