A pou has been unveiled at dawn on the Banks Peninsula this morning to mark a new phase for a historically significant site.
A pou is unveiled at dawn on Banks Peninsula as part of the first stage of Takapūneke Reserve in Akaroa. Photo: Carmel Sepuloni
The first stage of Takapūneke Reserve in Akaroa is being revealed after years of advocacy from mana whenua.
Ōnuku Rūnanga chair Rik Tainui said the event was a significant milestone.
"Takapūneke is a place of cultural and historical significance for our people," he said.
"The opening of the first stage of Takapūneke Reserve and the blessing of Pou Tū te Raki o Te Maiharanui is significant and represents an expression of our relationship to this whenua."
The land is an urupā for Kāi Tarewa and Kāti Irakehu, who lost ancestors in a feud with Ngāti Toa.
It had also been a trading site between Māori and European settlers, and marked the first British intervention of Māori warfare with a massacre in the 1830s.
Takapūneke became a painful reminder of loss for hapū, who chose not to return.
It was claimed by settlers, and was eventually taken over by the Akaroa County Council.
The council developed a dump and wastewater plant there in the 1960s, destroying archeological sites in the process.
The area was recognised as wāhi tapu, a sacred site, by Heritage New Zealand in 2002.
Rik Tainui said Ōnuku Rūnanga was working to further develop the land, and attain national reserve status from the Crown.
"Current and future planned works at Takapūneke help us to realise the aspirations of many generations of Ōnuku tīpuna."
The pou being unveiled was designed by Ngāi Tahu master carver Fayne Robinson.
The private blessing was attended by Ōnuku Rūnanga leaders, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, and Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel.
A public commemoration will take place later in the day.
