Day to remember Mount Tarawera's eruption

Mt Tarawera

Tarawera will always be in the hearts of minds of Tuhourangi, says iwi kaumatua Te Rangipuawhe Maika.

Today marks the 128th anniversary of the Mount Tarawera volcanic eruption that killed more than 100 people and destroyed what was considered the eighth wonder of the world, the Pink and White Terraces.

Mr Maika said he was 81 and there hadn't been a year when he didn't commemorate the day.

"We will always remember the day of the eruption, it's where we are from. It's part of who we are as Tuhourangi," he said. "It will always be a loss but we will always remember, my father had taught me - which has been shared with my children and now mokopuna (grandchildren)."

Survivors of the 1886 eruption relocated to Whakarewarewa and were housed by the people of Ngati Wahiao. Mr Maika's daughter, Atareta, said there was still a desire to return to the land and her father was passionate for Tuhourangi to build their own marae just past Te Wairoa Buried Village.

"We remember those that did unfortunately pass but ... we've been utilising the land throughout history. People knew about the Pink and White Terraces and we have the opportunity to enlarge our capacity as business people to develop sustainable entrepreneurial skills amongst ourselves," she said.

A ceremony will be held at Clandon Park in Surrey, England, where the meeting house Hinemihi Te Ao Tawhito now stands. It was originally built at Te Wairoa and survived the eruption.

Lecturers at Massey University's College of Creative Arts, Kura Puke and Stuart Foster, have travelled there to apply new technology to make light respond to sound vibrations.

They will document a dawn chorus of birds which will be transformed into a light show over the meeting house.