Māpuna

Helmut Modlik: 'hard to overstate' the return of Whitireia Maunga

Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngati Toa have regained land at Whitireia in Porirua 177 years after it was gifted to the Anglican Church under the promise that a school would be built for their children. But that promise was never honoured and the land was not returned to the iwi. Recently Ngati Toa bought 53 hectares of land at Whitireia from Radio New Zealand and yesterday morning a ceremony was held  to commemorate the return of their whenua. RNZ's Maori News Journalist Pokere Paewai was there and afterwards he sat down with the chair of Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira, Callum Katene, and the Kaihautu-Chief Executive, Helmut Modlik. 

Merenia Gray: my daughter Elliette plays her grandmother on stage

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Tiahuia Te Puea Hērangi was a prominent kaikaranga who died in 2019. She was raised by Princess Te Puea, a prominent leader of Tainui and the Kiingitanga in the first half of the 20th century. Tiahuia's daughter, Merenia Gray, is a dancer, choreographer and writer who's celebrating her mother's life at the Nelson Arts Festival later this month. She says her daughter, Elliette, plays the young version of Tiahuia on stage.