He hononga Tiriti – E mihi ana ki ngā rangatira o Te Āti Awa, Muaūpoko, Rangitāne, Ngāti Wai o Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa me Ngāti Toa i arahi i ngā āhuatanga hei whakatau i te Awakairangi Waka.

In March this year, alongside six lower North Island iwi, Manatū Taonga was privileged to help facilitate the return of a centuries-old waka hull to Te Awakairangi following the completion of its conservation treatment in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. 

This tōtara waka hull was found under 4.5 metres of silt in Te Awakairangi (the Hutt River) in 2006 during a water pumping station project. After its discovery, the 3.5 metre waka came into the care and custody of Manatū Taonga who administer the Protected Objects Act 1975 relating to ngā taonga tūturu. 

Like many taonga tūturu, the Awakairangi Waka needed significant conservation treatment to ensure its preservation for future generations. Conservation treatment in this case took place in Wellington City. The relocation back to Te Awakairangi earlier this year is an important milestone in the story of this taonga, returning it to the rohe where it was found and reinforcing its connection to its uri.   

This process is led by iwi and supported by the team in Te Hua, the delivery group at Manatū Taonga. Our team will continue to work with the six iwi involved with the waka to determine future opportunities around storage, display and education.