Mana Whenua carry loved ones across structurally unsafe Patangata Bridge

The repair of the only bridge offering vehicle access to three Urupa near Wairoa hangs in the balance after the district council deemed it structurally unsafe. Patangata Bridge was closed to cars in August and it could cost up to half a million dollars to fix -but the council says it can't do anything until the legal ownership of the bridge is determined. In the meantime, mana whenua are having to now carry the bodies of their loved ones on foot or by bike nearly a kilometre up a gravel road to the urupa, which local resident Careen Busing says is hard-going and undigified for those making their final journey.