Hāwai is a coastal settlement in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.

Hāwai River mouth

History edit

Hāwai is in the rohe (traditional tribal area) of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.[1]

Te Whānau ā Apanui placed a rāhui on over 130 kilometres of coastline, west from Hāwai, following the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption.[2]

During the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui set up road checkpoints to monitor and restrict travel into and through Hāwai.[3] The restrictions were supported by Ōpōtiki District Council and New Zealand Police.[4] According to The Guardian, the checkpoints operated 24 hours a day, unlike checkpoints set up by other iwi in other settlements.[5]

The restrictions lasted 47 days, from 12pm on 25 March until the delivery of a karakia at 12pm on 11 May.[6][7]

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui also set up initiatives during the lockdown to ensure elderly residents of Hāwai had access to essentials.[8]

Marae edit

The settlement has two marae of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.

Maraenui Marae is a meeting place for the hapū of Te Whānau a Hikarukutai; its meeting house is called Te Iwarau.

Tunapahore Marae is a meeting place for the hapū of Te Whānau a Haraawaka; its meeting house is called Haraawaka.[1][9]

Education edit

Te Kura Mana Maori Maraenui is a co-educational Māori language immersion state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[10] with a roll of 48 as of February 2024.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  2. ^ Dunlop, Māni (19 December 2019). "What the rāhui in place after Whakaari erupted mean and why they are important". Radio New Zealand. Te Manu Korihi.
  3. ^ Moodie, Kim (22 May 2020). "Police, local council assist with Bay of Plenty iwi border closure". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  4. ^ "Joint media release from Opotiki District Council, Te Whanau a Apanui, New Zealand Police". scoop.co.nz. Ōpōtiki District Council. 11 May 2020.
  5. ^ Graham-McLay, Charlotte (23 March 2020). "New Zealand's Māori tribes set up checkpoints to avoid 'catastrophic' coronavirus deaths". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Limits on movements into and out of tribal lands begin today". Gold FM. goldfm.co.nz. 25 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Covid 19 coronavirus: Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi to end checkpoints". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post. 11 May 2020.
  8. ^ Hurkmans, Mahina (13 April 2020). "Hikarukutai hero travels 40 mins every day to take kai to her elders". Māori Television. Te Ao.
  9. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. ^ "Te Kura Mana Maori Maraenui Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  11. ^ "Te Kura Mana Maori Maraenui Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

37°55′18″S 177°31′41″E / 37.921742°S 177.528046°E / -37.921742; 177.528046