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'Overwhelming Outpouring Of Grief': Tauranga Iwi Respond To Deadly Mt Maunganui Landslide
Pokere Paewai, Māori issues reporter
The iwi of Tauranga say their first priority is to support emergency services before considering a longer rāhui at the site of the deadly Mt Maunganui landslide.
The chairpersons of Tauranga's three iwi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pukenga held a joint media conference on Monday afternoon.
Ngāti Ranginui chairperson Charlie Rahiri said their thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the victims at Mauao and Pāpāmoa.
When asked about a longer term rāhui, Rahiri said for the moment they would align with the health and safety requirements at Mauao, but they intended to hold a hui to discuss the future of the mountain.
"We understand that there is some damage all around the mountain, so it could take some time to repair that damage. Outside of that we haven't had a hui as iwi, we haven't had a hui with our kaumātua to discuss what the long term plan for Mauao is."
The current rāhui extended from the police cordon back to Mauao and included a rāhui on swimming on both sides of Mount Maunganui.
Updates were being shared by iwi radio station Moana Radio on behalf of Mauao Trust.
Ngāi Te Rangi chairperson Charlie Tawhiao said emergency services at the site were working under difficult conditions and he was proud of the iwi team who had been providing cultural and spiritual support.
There'd been an outpouring of grief from the community in the wake of the tragedy, he said.
"There are a lot of people here that feel very strongly about the loss of people that they don't even know, but they are visitors to our place.
"There's been an overwhelming outpouring of grief from Tauranga Moana not just from iwi but from all of the community," he said.
"The affinity and passion for the maunga doesn't only sit with iwi, the community of Tauranga Moana, whether we're Māori or whether we're non-Māori have a huge affinity to the mountain and those of us who climb and walk the mountain often feel its presence and the spiritual enticement that the maunga brings for all of us."
Mauao was a part of their whakapapa, their history and would be part of the future, it would be here long after they were gone, he said.
Rahiri said the iwi team on site had been working in close proximity with the whānau of victims.
"We see each other quite regularly, often we chat and often we share, often we share our experiences and they share theirs."
Ngāti Pukenga chairperson Kylie Smallman said multiple marae across Tauranga opened their doors to both iwi members and the general public.
"That's just inherent in what we do. We done the same in the Covid response we didn't have any resources but we all opened up our doors to anyone who needed it... We had a huge response from the community and a lot of thanks for us for doing that because we're it on the sniff of an oily rag but we're doing it, and we're not waiting around for support."
Tawhiao said all three iwi supported the independent review into the events leading up to the landslide at the base of Mauao announced by Tauranga City Council.
Rahiri said the iwi intended to be actively involved in the review.
"Our expectation is that iwi are at the table as we move towards recovery in the wider Tauranga area, from Pāpāmoa to Otawhiwhi there has been significant damage to homes, to roads, to infrastructure and we look forward to being part of the conversations around that as well."
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