Hāwai Explained

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

History

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

Te Whānau ā Apanui placed a rāhui on over 130 kilometres of coastline, west from Hāwai, following the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption.^[1]

During the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui set up road checkpoints to monitor and restrict travel into and through Hāwai.^[2] The restrictions were supported by Ōpōtiki District Council and New Zealand Police.^[3] According to The Guardian, the checkpoints operated 24 hours a day, unlike checkpoints set up by other iwi in other settlements.^[4]

The restrictions lasted 47 days, from 12pm on 25 March until the delivery of a karakia at 12pm on 11 May.^{[5] [6]}

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui also set up initiatives during the lockdown to ensure elderly residents of Hāwai had access to essentials.^[7]

Marae

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.^{[8] [9]}

Education

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 as of .^[11]

References

-37.9217°N 177.528°W

Notes and References

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