Why these iwi welcome a festival on their whenua every year

Every summer thousands of people descend on Tāpapakanga Regional Park for Splore festival. 

Overlooking the Tīkapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf) the site sits on the land of Ngāti Paoa and Ngaati Whanaunga. Each year the mana whenua welcome the festival and its guests in the hope to create a greater appreciation of their land and why it’s so special. 

Each year the iwi open Splore with a pōwhiri and it’s become an essential way to celebrate tikanga Māori and remind the attendees of whose land they’re on. 

Re: News spoke to members of the iwi about why Splore is a special opportunity to share their culture and history. 

More stories:

I am walking 200km for the cyclone affected East Coast

“What’s the point in being successful if you can’t help people along the way?”

Teachers tell us why they are striking

“My salary is about $50,000 and I’ve been a teacher for six years now. It’s not enough.”

Humans need bees just as much as they need us

Who runs the world? Bees.