Collaborative Planting Effort In Memory Of 'Mama Jude' Restores Mauri To He Ara Hīkoi | Houhora Walkway

Te Pae Tawhiti, Te Aupōuri and Moana Whenua joined forces to restore sections of the new Houhora to Pukenui Walkway through a collaborative planting day last month

PHOTO CREDIT: KAIO HOOPER

Karakia was led by Te Aupōuri Freshwater Kaimahi, Matiu Murray to commence the very first native tree planting day on He Ara Hīkoi in Houhora last month.

Over $2000 worth of native trees were donated by a much-loved local community member, Judy Wright before her passing in 2023 and included healthy varieties from the Ngātaki Native Tree Nursery.

Rangatahi from Te Pae Tawhiti (Kōru Services), Te Aupōuri Taiao team, Ngāitakoto and Moana Whenua Trust Limited (Kaio Hooper) collaborated to restore life to areas of the walkway that required attention. Te Pae Tawhiti's alternative education services were very engaged and asking questions about the rākau that they were handling.

Kaio Hooper (Te Aupōuri, Ngāitakoto, Ngāti Awa) said it reminded him why he loves what he does;

"When I was a young fulla, things like this were quite common but it's a different world that we live in today and it's really encouraging to see rangatahi who might be experiencing different adversities throughout different layers of their lives to be able to just get out and into the natural environment and start looking at those basic skills around looking after trees" he said.

"Working in a team, understanding the whenua and the history of areas. It's good to show rangatahi that there are other things out there outside of a typical school curriculum and there are opportunities outside of those spaces that could potentially turn into employment that involve looking after their taiao, their rohe. It's about embracing kaitiakitanga which is also embracing their own identities and whakapapa" detailed Hooper.

TE PAE TAWHITI AND TE AUPŌURI (PHOTO CREDIT: KAIO HOOPER)

In 2023, Shane Jones spoke to Te Hiku Radio and was supportive of adding new life to the area, while protecting historical significance for the iwi. 

Councillor Felicity Foy spoke of the 2023 blessing and provided detail around the involvement of the project as a whole;

"A huge mihi to Te Aupōuri, Far North Roading, Hoskin Civil, FNDC Councillors Kapa & Kleskovic, to the Te Aupōuri and Ngāti Kuri kaumātua & kuia, and to Kelvin Davis & Mariameno Kapa-Kingi for attending today for the blessing. Another huge thank you to Te Hiku Community Board and Delwyn Shepherd for their help get this project scoped and delivered for this first stage of the project delivery (a 2.2m wide meandering metal path from Houhora Heads to the State Highway)." 

NGĀTAKI NATIVE TREE NURSERY KAURI TREE (PHOTO CREDIT: KAIO HOOPER)

Kauri, pūriri, harakeke and kāraka trees were planted on the day which created a forever space that the rangatahi, and all involved, can return to, knowing that they planted them and that they contributed to the overall health and mauri of the area.

Houhora has a number of pā sites, middens and aeas of historical of significance. The immediate area of Houhora Heads is known as the place where esteemed tupuna, Te Houtaewa, was pursued when fleeing Te Kīroa after the Battle of Hukatere.

Te Aupōuri Sites of Significance details that;

"Houhora is particularly significant to Te Aupōuri as the place where warrior Te Houtaewa was killed. After the fight at Hukatere Pā when Houtaewa was shot and wounded by Ngāpuhi, he ran inland and crossed the peninsula to Houhora Harbour. He was pursued by Te Kīroa, from Ngāpuhi. When he reached Houhora, Houtaewa handed his axe, Tū-nui-ā-rangi, to his sister Pōtahi. He then swam across the harbour, but when the salt water entered his wounds he was seriously weakened. When Te Kīroa arrived he saw Pōtahi watching Houtaewa cross the harbour, and started to swim after him. When they reached the other side of the harbour, below Tohorahā, they fought. During this struggle, Te Kīroa fell and broke his taiaha. Te Houtaewa managed to get ontop of Te Kīroa, but Te Kīroa thrust his broken taiaha into Te Houtaewa."

PHOTO CREDIT: KAIO HOOPER

He Ara Hīkoi, Houhora is still a work in progress but it has been great to see it already in full use since the first section was completed. The original plans for the walkway will stretch from Houhora Heads to SH1 and through Pukenui again.

A full list of the beautiful trees that were planted on this day by this rōpū can can be found below:

You can read more information about the project here.