Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo has been advised that some branches of the famous rākau Tangi Te Korowhiti have dropped onto the beach of Kāwhia Moana.
A local Ngāti Hikairo resident inspected the damage and determined that the branches are still attached to the main tree that is still standing and as such doesn’t pose an immediate navigation risk and that there is minimal risk of other branches falling down.
Kingi Tūheitia has been advised of the incident and is supportive of TRONH following the appropriate tikanga to look after this taonga and minimise further damage and loss .Ngāti Hikairo are the Kaitiaki for the rākau and our Kaumatua Jack Cunningham is leading the process on our behalf.
Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo applied and was successful in achieving historic place recognition for Tangi Te Korowhiti and Te Papa o Karewa some years ago and will be engaging with Pouhere Taonga, as well as local councils as the fallen branches are removed from the beach and taken to a safe storage location and the remaining tree is further assessed.
Updates on progress will be provided as they come to hand.
Tangi Te Korowhiti is one of a number of Pōhutukawa that were growing in Kāwhia when the Tainui waka landed in Kāwhia Moana and is regarded as a significant taonga for all descendants of Tainui Waka.
Lees Seymour
Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo
