Leading from the front issuu

WHANGANUI
TRIBES
“The great tribes of Whanganui take their name,
their spirit and their strength from the great river
which flows from the mountains of the central
North Island to the sea. For centuries the people
have travelled the Whanganui River by canoe,
caught eels in it, built villages on its banks, and
fought over it. The people say, ‘Ko au te awa. Ko te
awa ko au’ — I am the river. The river is me’”.
David Youn
Rupene Mare who Pat met prior to the group’s walk. Pat
and my father have remained firm friends. The rest is a
story for Pat to tell…
Pat soon became interested in my work and was invited
to an official opening of the Pillars Manukau office
and the following year while on a journey through Auckland
came to speak to Pillars volunteers and to participate
in an annual event for ‘Children of Prisoners’.
In 2015 our whānau decided to walk the first leg of the
Te Araroa Trail with invitations sent out to the local iwi,
whānau and friends. The walk was broken down into
five days with an average of 20k to be walked a day. The
walk eventually consisted of only four generations of our
whānau and on the final walk community, whānau and
friends walked the last leg with us. Pat with a friend travelled
up to walk the final leg with us; one of many memories
we as a whānau will never forget.
My husband and I travelled to Napier at Pat’s request
to talk about the work that we do, as my husband works
for PARS Incorporated as a navigator, working alongside
men and women who are coming out of prison and deportees.
I have also joined with Pat as he, Minnie and a
small group walked with Ian Upton from Petone to Wellington
Parliament House.
Pat is a Rangatira in his own right. He has become a
loved member of our whānau and is admired for his passion
and audacity to continue to fight for injustice for all
at his age. This is a legacy that we will always remember
him for, amidst other traits. He is humble, caring, giving,
loyal, stubborn, and will travel to the ends of the earth to
fight for causes he believes in.
Nga manaakitanga,
Lois Naera
Top two pics, the Puraroto Camp Ground near Jerusalem
/ Hiruhirama where Jay Cripps formerly of Napier, is host;
Jerusalem, home to Sister Mary Aubert and James K Baxter
many years ago.
140
TAKE ME TO THE
RIVER
In May 2018, Minnie, Pat and the staunch tight four
TAOH team, Tanyon, Jake, Bronson and Kaivah
head to Taumaranui and the Whanganui River, another
stunning section of the trail, that traverses
from the mountains to the sea, via the mighty waterway.
The history and mystery of the area made
such an impact on everyone, especially Minnie,
they all promised to come back and experience
the river fully when time and budget allow.
Visiting Puraroto Camp Ground further down
the river and just north of Jerusalem was definitely
on their wish list. Originally from Maraenui and a
former Mongrel Mob member, Jay Cripps established
the camp three years ago. Linking up with
other tourist providers along the river, he hosts individuals
and groups travelling the trail and others
exploring the area. Jay has a great set up offering
plenty of activities for living in nature and adjusting
to the river’s rhythm and on the land, including
how to put down a proper hangi.
Napier Pilot City Trust – for a kinder, fairer city