I te 90 o ngā tau o te whakamahara ki a Tā Māui Pōmare, i hikitia te wairua o te hunga i tae atu ki Ōwae. Ko te haerenga mai o Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po he tohu hira mō te hononga i waenganui i te Kīngitanga me Taranaki, he hononga i ahu mai i ngā rā o nehe, e hāngai ana ki te wā o Kīngi Koroki.
Ka kōrero te Māngai o te Kīngitanga, a Rāhui Papa, mō te hiranga o te rā me te maungārongo i kawea mai e Te Arikinui
“I whakahirahira te rā, inanahi te haerenga mai ki roto o Taranaki he hau pūkeri nui, he ua, ā, ka kino nei te patu i a mātau ki te ua. Te taenga mai o Te Arikinui kua paki te rā anā, kua tau te maungārongo ki waenganui i ngā kīwai o te kete e noho nei ki runga o whaitara i tēnei rā,” hei tā Rāhui.
“Kaore he motukia te here o ngā kīwai o te kete, e whakataukitia a Tāwhiao. Nō reira kua whakahikahika, kua tautau rānei i te ahi o te whanaungatanga o tēnei rā, ā, haere ake nei kia whakakotahi mai ngā mātāpono o te Kiingitanga ki ngā maataapono o Taranaki kaore he wehewehenga, kāore he rerekētanga,” hei tāna.
Honouring 90 years: A legacy reunited on Sir Māui Pomare Day
The 90th anniversary of the memorial for Tā Māui Pōmare served as a powerful testament to the enduring relationship between the Kīngitanga and Taranaki. The historic gathering at Ōwae brought together iwi leaders and whānau to honour a legacy that continues to shape the future of Māori society.
Central to the commemoration was the presence of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, whose attendance underscored the deep historical ties between the Kīngitanga and the Taranaki region – a bond that has persisted for generations. For the whānau of Tā Māui Pōmare, the event provided a profound opportunity to bridge the past with the challenges of the present.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Miria Pōmare, the mokopuna of Tā Māui Pōmare, emphasised the importance of history as a guide for future generations.
“We look back to move forward and today has been very much about that with Te Arikinui gracing us with her presence and elevating the mana of this hui today and reigniting the memory of her grandfather Koroki who was here that day 90 years ago has been the most amazing uplifting mana enhancing experience for us,” Miria said.
“I think it’s all about remembering, igniting, strengthening relationship to take us forward into the future towards the vision that he always described to which was based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi it was the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi all its manifestations,” she said.
“He really believed it was a template, it was a frame work that would provide for the flourishing of our country and our society.”