The Waitahanui River mouth at sunset. Photo / Grace Slee.
The Waitahanui River mouth at sunset. Photo / Grace Slee.
A rāhui at Waitahānui, 10km south of Taupō will stay in place until Covid-19 alert level 1.
Aiming to protect the predominantly Māori population against Covid-19, the rāhui was put in place on March 22 by hapū Ngāti Tūtemohuta, the day after the nation went into alert level 2.
Signsat the Waitahānui River bridge on State Highway 1 outline activities that are temporarily banned, including fishing, hunting, gatherings, swimming, or overnight camping.
A rāhui at Waitahānui is in place until Covid-19 alert level one. No fishing for outsiders but fishing is ok for residents.
Covid-19 alert level 3 has created conflict between Waitahānui locals and those keen to fish the world-famous Waitahānui rip. The rāhui has caused confusion for those not living there who could not understand why locals were allowed to fish, but they were not.
Ngāti Tūtemohuta spokesperson Ngatoru Wall explained on Maori TV that the rāhui wasn't about fishing, it was about protecting the Waitahānui community's bubble and keeping whakapapa safe.
"The ban remains due to the continued level of fear in the community. It's a predominantly Māori population, and they are our mokopuna, our nannies, our koro, ourselves."
Anglers have expressed frustration at not being able to fish. One social media post read "you can fish where you bloody well like on the lake, as long as you have a licence".
Another angler posted "unbelievable, people have been waiting to get out and enjoy what's left of summer".
Taupō Fishing Club president Shirley Fraser says they are supportive of rāhui at Waitahānui and the Waikato River.
Taupō Fishing Club president Shirley Fraser said the club always supports rāhui, and says now is a good opportunity to explore and find new fishing spots.
"Due to rāhui, there is no fishing at Waitahānui and no fishing on the Waikato River. As a club, we always respect it if there is a rāhui," said Fraser.
GOLOCAL
Ngāti Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board has publicly supported the rāhui, saying it was deemed essential by the hapū at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.
"The people of Ngāti Tūtemohuta have shown wisdom in 'going early and going hard', to use the Prime Minister's words, to take steps to protect their families and the Waitahānui community," said Ngāti Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board chairman, John Bishara.
"We understand the desire of some to go fishing during alert level 3, but that needs to be balanced against the risk to Ngāti Tūtemohuta of their kaumātua being exposed to people fishing from their back doorstep. Most New Zealanders do not have to contend with that issue.
"Fortunately, this is a temporary situation and there are other fishing spots available around the lake that don't pose such a level of risk."
Trust board member Ngahere Wall, who is also a member of Ngāti Tūtemohuta, said more than 120 families live in the area.
"We have a large number of kaumātua. They sit in the highest 'at risk' category of coming to serious harm if they to become infected with Covid-19.
"Ngāti Tūtemohuta are not the only ones who are looking after their neighborhood. Others in Tūwharetoa and other iwi, and communities throughout Aotearoa, have collaborated to restrict public activities and access, for the good of all.
"The least of our worries at this time should be a rāhui. It exists to help protect people - not penalise people."
Heron fishing in the sunset at Dirty Duck Creek, Awaroa Reserve near Waitahānui. Photo / Robbie Graham
The Prime Minister has commented on community-initiated public access blocks around the country, in context of a mass flouting of Covid-19 level 4 restrictions over Easter. She has asked that iwi, DoC and police work together so legal access rights are not impeded.
As to what happens to anglers who try to go fishing at the Waitahānui River mouth, Ngatoru told Māori TV that non-residents will continue to be moved on.
