Celebrating Pakaitore Day

On Saturday 28th February, Te Tai Hauauru MP and Co-leader of the Maori Party, Tariana Turia, will be celebrating Whanganuiatanga with all of the whanau gathered at Pakaitore. 
 

“Pakaitore Day – the 28th February – is a day of huge significance to Whanganui iwi” said Mrs Turia.

“It is the day we remember the 79 days occupation which started on 28 February 1995, an action we took to draw attention to a traditional site of significance to our iwi.  Pakaitore was the site of a pa, and a traditional place for trade and for meeting”.

“Pakaitore Day is always about building relationships between hapu, strengthening the sense of community, and reflecting on our status as iwi within Whanganui” said Mrs Turia.  "It is a time for wananga, for education, for whakawhanaungatanga".

“We are all deeply saddened that this Pakaitore Day appears to take us back in time to 1995 – this time the Council has disagreed about the correct spelling of our name which identifies us as iwi; as our river; the name which has its roots in our tribal history  - Whanganui”.

“We will, nevertheless, be celebrating Whanganuiatanga as a really positive marker of our community” said Mrs Turia. 

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