Road to Recovery –
a hard fought battle for mana whenua After the 2016 earthquake, restoring and reopening the highway into Kaikōura was crucial. Resources to make some areas safe were mobilised quickly, but the initial road reopening still meant multiple delays for travellers. Today, the journey to Kaikōura is almost uninterrupted by roadworks, with the exception of one final piece – the installation of a rock canopy. The stop gives travellers the chance to stretch their legs and enjoy the sea view. The serene coastal landscape, and the smoothness of the new road, gives no indication of the struggle faced by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura as once again they fought to defend their whenua, and their tīpuna buried beneath it. Kaituhi TAMARA BISSEKER reports.
34 TE KARAKA MAKARIRI 2021
