Unveiling at Oweta Pa to honour slain tipuna

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

On November 14, 1868, Rongowhakaata tipuna (ancestors) Paratene Turangi, Iraia Riki, Renata Whakaari and Ihimaera Hokopu were killed by Te Kooti Rikirangi Te Turuki and his followers at Oweta Pa, Manutuke.

Hira Te Kai was fatally wounded and died on December 6.

The killings were just days after the Matawhero massacre, when an estimated 60 people were killed by Te Kooti and his party.

Rongowhakaata whanau will commemorate the event tomorrow at the Oweta Pa site with the unveiling of a memorial stone.

Whakato Marae representative Tapunga Nepe said the kaupapa (cause) of the commemoration was to reconcile differences in acknowledging the past, forgiveness and healing, before they could move forward as a community, as an iwi.

“The killings in Poverty Bay over the five days November 10-14, 1868 were not random events.

“They were very specific actions in response to the chain of events that started with the battle of Waerenga a Hika in 1865 and resulted in the unlawful exile of Te Kooti and other tipuna to Wharekauri,” he said.

“Following the return of Te Kooti and the whakarau (exiled) to Turanga they exacted revenge on a number of people and their families (Maori and Pakeha) for the loss of land, property and acts of the militia.

“It is by no means to whakaiti (put down) or whakamana (empower) any side of the korero, it is to acknowledge both sides of the korero and ultimately the relationships which have been cemented through our whakapapa today.”

With the recent passing of Rongowhakaata woman Erica Jones, there have been changes made to tomorow’s commemoration programme because many of the whanau will return to Te Pahou Marae, Manutuke, for the tangi.

A blessing at the Oweta Pa site and an unveiling of the memorial will be at 6.30am.