He Waka Pakoko
20 years on since the Whanganui Iwi Development Summit was held at Putiki Marae the landscape continues to change as we achieve settlements for Te Awa Tupua and lands across Whanganui Iwi. In order to plot a course towards the next phase of our iwi history Ngā Tāngata Tiaki are calling our people back together to help formulate a pathway towards 2040.
HE WAKA PAKOKO – The Pathway 2040 is an iwi symposium being organised by Ngā Tangata Tiaki on the 14th and 15th of March 2020 back at Putiki Marae, Whanganui to gather the input from our people about what their vision is for our next 20 years.
The Waka Pakoko was simply fashioned waka identifiable by a plain, inwards facing figurehead (the Pakoko, or sometimes called the Whakaanga) and lack of adornment. On Te Wai-nui-a-Rua these waka were of great importance as they were our fishing-canoes, racing canoes, our ferries and our general mode of transport mai uta ki tai, mai tai ki uta. Some of the famous waka pakoko were named Korau, Waiapu, Te Korukoru o Maru, Mangaone, Te Kiekie, Taku-Tai-a-te-Kura. Some of these Waka Pakoko were felled and carved from Te Matai o Puanga, a forest inland from the confluence of Manga-nui-o-te-ao and Te Wai-nui-a-Rua.
He Waka Pakoko creates a space that allows us to be inwards facing and future focused. We invite our iwi, young and old to wānanga, work-shop, and collectively define our aspirations for Te Awa Tupua over the next 20 years.
Ngā Tāngata Tiaki will use the information gathered from He Waka Pakoko to guide the strategic focus of the entities established within its group such as Te Whawhaki to support the development of uri and iwi of Te Awa Tupua .
The key process for decision making in a tikanga Whanganui environment is Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua. Note that this is a process of empowering collective hapū decision making rather than a body. The root word being runa: to gather.
Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua
The hapū of Whanganui have coexisted and cooperated for over a thousand years, due to common whakapapa, connectivity through Te Awa Tupua, and opportunities that maximise economic growth and political advancement. Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua exists to facilitate this ongoing connection and cooperation today and was formally established in 1997.
The principal purpose of Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua is to provide a forum for Whanganui hapū to:
- Discuss, provide guidance and make decisions on issues that affect Whanganui Iwi within a tikanga led environment;
- Express hapū aspirations and expectations of one another and of Whanganui Iwi service entities (Ringa Whātoro); and
- Demonstrate hapū and collective Iwi leadership, whilst speaking with a collective voice.
Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua is an inclusive forum and participation is open to all hapū and individuals of Whanganui Iwi. Each hapū decide who will speak on their behalf.
To view the Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua terms of reference please click the button below.
Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua meets quarterly. Below are the dates for 2019-2020
| Date | Venue |
| 8th February 2020 | Matahiwi Marae, Whanganui River |
| 9th May 2020 | TBC |
| 8th August 2020 | TBC |
| 14th November 2020 | TBC |
Raukotahi Rangatahi Summit
The Annual Raukotahi Rangtahi Summit is held in the second week of the July school holidays each year and provides an opportunity for Whanganui Rangatahi aged 13-18 years old mai Te Kahui Maunga ki Tangaroa, both living at home and outside of the rohe to come together to get to know each other and themselves in relation to their Whanganuitanga.
To find out more about this kaupapa head to the Raukotahi Whanganui Facebook page via the link below.
Raukotahi Whanganui Facebook page
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