TE WAKA HIHIRI BLOG:
03 03 2023
Ka nui te mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.
Our thoughts are with those recovering from the effects of the last cyclonic event. Although our rohe got off relatively lightly, for those in te Tairawhiti – they must still be reeling from the devastation it wrought. We had scheduled a Te Waka Hihiri clean-up of the Okuta bay rock-carvings prior to Matahi Brightwell re-commencing work on finishing them, but unfortunately his house, property and possessions in Gisborne were flooded out in the cyclone – so even if the roads were open, the restoration mahi wont be taking place this month, as planned. Who can plan with certainty any event these days?
Te Waka Hihiri pūkenga Perry Fletcher is currently leading a cultural heritage assessment of Ōpepe, for the Ōpepe Farm Trust, assisted by other members of Te Waka Hihiri. Every time we go off track with Perry we learn more about it’s past – and present state. We have already documented many sites of significance and are exploring places on the Opepe farm that few go to anymore.
After our Ōpepe cultural mapping project is completed we are planning (still) for members of Te Waka Hihiri to come on a walk with us there, via the Old Coach road, as it is a great way to connect to some of the historical sites in the area, that we are presently documenting and learning about. We are gathering at 10 am in the Opepe carpark, on April 8, for those that want to join us – nau mai haere mai.
We have a new web-site domain that incorporates our archival work with Taupō-moana Record Keepers – www.tewakahihiri2.com There’s only one number’s difference between the old and the new domain name – but future TWH site connectivity depends on your use of this link in the future!
Whaitaima and I have been accompanying Ngāti Te Kohera whānau & a documentary crew, tracing the footsteps of their ancestors who went to the battle of Ōrakau, prior to the commencement of the shooting of a feature film about this battle. We have visited the site of the battle in Kihikihi with some of the descendants of those who took part, as well as cast and crew for the movie. This association led to us being invited to the powhiri for the cast & crew of the film in Ngongotaha after which we were allowed to walk around the film set – a re-creation of the fort in which the Tipuna fought and mostly died. It was an immersive blast. We’re going back to the set in a couple of weeks as ’back-ground talent’ ie Extras, on some of the more epic scenes - so our journey with this retelling of Ōrakau is not over.
I hope to go off-track with you soon. Ka piki te ora, e hoa mā – Jeffrey Addison
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