Te Hokinga Mai o Whitireia

On Friday 17 October, we celebrated the acquisition of 53 hectares of whenua at Whitireia, back into Ngāti Toa Rangatira ownership. 

Whitireia holds deep significance for Ngāti Toa Rangatira, from its early use as a kāinga and food-gathering place by tūpuna to its later role being an endowment for a school that did not eventuate.

In 1848, Ngāti Toa gifted land at Whitireia in exchange for a promise that a school for Ngāti Toa tamariki would be built by the Anglican church. The kura that was never built led Wiremu Te Kakakura Parata, a Ngāti Toa rangatira and MP, to take the famous 1877 court case against the Bishop of Wellington applying that “the land having been given for specific purposes” that never came into effect “ought to be given back to the donors”.

But Chief Justice James Prendergast ruled that the Treaty of Waitangi was a "simple nullity", having been signed by "primitive barbarians". Prendergast regarded the Te Tiriti insignificant to domestic law denying the rights of Ngāti Toa rights for generations. Becoming one of New Zealand’s most damaging legal precedents.

The Ngāti Toa Rangatira Claims Settlement Act 2014 acknowledged certain land gifts (including the gift of 500 acres at Whitireia to the Crown for a school that was never built).

Now more than a century later, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira has bought the land back, Te Hokinga Mai o Whitireia, the return of Whitireia, is a powerful act of restoration and reconnection. 

A huge mihi to our kaumātua, iwi members, and manuhiri, those that were involved in the acquisition of the whenua, our support crew, videographers and photographers who captured some beautiful images that we have shared over on our socials.

To everyone who joined us, it’s hard to put into words just how significant today was. We know our people were with us ā wairua, without a doubt.

He rā whakahirahira tēnei mō Ngāti Toa Rangatira, kua hoki mai te whenua, kua hoki mai te mauri.