Mouri stone laid at Shelly Bay as part of healing process

Shelly Bay, Wellington.

By Kelvin McDonald of Maori Television

Taranaki Whānui tribal members have gathered to lay a mouri stone as part of a healing and unification process at Shelly Bay in Wellington this morning.

The ceremony, known as Te Whakatō Mouri, was attended by iwi leaders of Te Atiawa Taranaki Whānui, the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, Mau Whenua and tribal members.

Mau Whenua leader Dr Catherine Love said the placing of the mouri stone is the foundation on which to build a positive future and acknowledged the shared kaupapa of rangatiratanga through holding land for future generations.

"We are not giving up our fight for the whenua here, however we are excited by the steps that the trust has taken to uphold our kaupapa moving forward," Dr Love said in a joint statement by Mau Whenua and Taranaki Whānui on Saturday.

Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust chairman Kara Puketapu-Dentice said Te Whakatō Mouri is about settling the whenua and a time for healing and hope for the iwi.

"This kaupapa is about the future sustainability and intergenerational wellbeing of our people and respecting our forebears and past leaders.

"We acknowledge the raruraru and different views over Shelly Bay, which provides a basis for learning and growing as we move forward together."

Trustees have committed to more meaningful and regular engagement with Māori kin groups as part of their leadership role.

Mau Whenua will change focus from their 16-month occupation of Shelly Bay while maintaining their challenge to the legitimacy of the sale of the land by former trustees including through their legal case, the statement said.

"We are delighted that we have been able to work with the trust under the tikanga of Te Raukura and they are taking steps that see them picking up the longstanding kaupapa of rangatiratanga through holding land."

Mau Whenua spokeswoman Shamia Makarini said together they will continue to fight the wider whawhai (battle) by holding the Crown to account for injustices to mana whenua.