Hikurangi swamp and the Pukemiro Forest around Ngararatunua went from a plentiful food source for his hapu to being largely alienated within a generation, Ngati Kahu kaumatua Richard Shepherd has told the Waitangi Tribunal.
The tribunal yesterday wrapped up hearing week five of Te Paparahi O Te Taki inquiry into Northland Treaty claims at Forum North in Whangarei.
Mr Shepherd said he went into the army in 1956, aged 18, with the hapu in sound cultural position, retiring from the service 33 years later.
He said as a child the swamp and forest provided all the food the hapu needed. When he left home for the military, there was no indication that in 40-plus years things would have changed dramatically and his tribal way of living would be under threat.
"Reflecting on my 33 years in the military, on my service during the Malay emergency, operation on the Thailand border and the Vietnam conflict I realise that whilst deployed to these foreign places there has been a deliberate and systematic undermining of my culture," Mr Shepherd said.