Iwi and Incorporation go from strength to strength

The relationship between the people of Meremere Marae and Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation is going from strength to strength with the naming of a second PKW farm.

Te Kāhu is the new name of the farm previously known as Farm 10. It is the second farm to be gifted a name by Tūwhakaehu, hapū of Ngāti Ruanui, born out of a relationship formed between the hapū and incorporation in March last year.

Te Poihi Campbell, who has been leading the relationship for the hapū, says the name Te Kāhu (‘kāhu’ is the Māori name for harrier hawk) was inspired by the abundance of hawks living in the vicinity of the farm, located east of Hāwera in the Ōhangai Road area.

“Hawks have always been dominant in this area and we also have a waiata that speaks of their relationship with this particular whenua,” says Te Poihi.

That waiata is called Whakarongo e te rau and it was composed by Timotu, a tupuna from Meremere Marae, in the early 1800s.

“One of the lines from the waiata ‘he kāhu ka kē i te waru’ refers to the ‘screeching hawk hovering above the landscape’. It also says ‘like the hawk the people/hapū have been hovering over the landscape.’”

Te Poihi says the naming ceremony in December gave members of the hapū the opportunity to reconnect with the whenua for the first time in six generations.

“My dad Robert Campbell and my uncle Thomas Davis live along the edge of the farm but they have only been observers of it looking over the fence.”

“So for them to actually step foot onto the land and unveil the signage was a very special moment for them.”

Te Poihi said the relationship with the incorporation was allowing his hapū to build pride within themselves.

“By building pride, we are able to build culture and identity and therefore make meaningful progress on many of our aspirations as a hapū,” he says.

Mitchell Ritai, PKW General Manager Shareholder Engagement, says the latest naming project has enabled the incorporation to continue its relationship with the hapū.

“This is a continuation of our relationship and we are very appreciative of the people of Meremere Marae, their trustees and Te Poihi for their gift.”

“Allowing the hapū to gift a name that is chosen by them and meaningful to them helps us put another layer of cultural identity on the land we farm. And that in turn helps us at the incorporation to make progress on our kaitiakitanga strategy,” says Mitchell.

The strategy, which lays down how PKW will carry out its role as kaitiaki of the whenua, was formed last year. One of its commitments is to bring about reconnection to the land for Taranaki Māori as well as the reclaiming of Te Reo Māori.

“The relationship began when we took our whānau day out to Meremere Marae last year, then it continued with the naming of the Te Ruru farm, now the Te Kāhu farm. We are looking forward to furthering the relationship even more,” says Mitchell.