02/07/2026
The Morning of Remembrance at Ōmarunui
The Arrival and Whakamoemiti
The morning of July 2nd 2026 commenced with the arrival of rangatahi from Te Kura o Waitahanui of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who had travelled into the heart of Kahungunu. Representatives from Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotu met the delegation warmly and escorted them to the historic grounds of Ōmarunui. The core purpose of the journey was to bring these descendants to the very site where their tīpuna had stood during the turbulent conflicts of October 1866.
Standing on that sacred ground, the gathering began with a whakamoemiti led by Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotu Chairman, Hōri Reti. Mat Mullany noted that the hāhi Rātana faith remains deeply influential among the visiting Tūwharetoa whānau, grounding the proceedings in a shared spiritual connection.
Mapping the Landscape and Lineage
The speaking then moved into a shared narrative of the land. Chairman Hōri Reti opened the kōrero on behalf of the home people, detailing the traditional boundaries of ngā hapū tokowhitu o Ahuriri. He mapped out the enduring connections that bind Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hineuru, and Ngāti Tūwharetoa together, tracing their iwi taketaketanga from Ngai Tangaroa through Pania and Moremore all the way back to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
To support and expand upon this history, the narrative shifted to describe the physical landscape framing the day. The gathering stood directly beside the Tutaekuri Awa, a vital ancient highway of mahinga kai and rongoā. Rising above them was the maunga of Ōtātara, a landscape where Taraia historically held the mana and Tūrauwha held the guardianship of the whenua. Mullany explained that this location has been a place of continuous occupancy sustaining the iwi since the 14th century, flanked by the neighbouring hapū of Ngāti Hinepare, Ngāti Māhu, Ngāi Tāwhao, Ngāti Pārau, and the traditional settlement of Pā Whakairo.
The focus then turned to the local resident marae: Moteo, Timi Kara, and Ōmāhu of the Ngāi Te Ūpokoiri people, alongside the people of Waiōhiki. Throughout these descriptions, it was emphasized to the visiting rangatahi just how deeply significant this entire landscape remains to their collective ancestors.
The Significance of Ōmarunui and Ancestral Diplomacy
Mullany highlighted that Ōmarunui was originally a pā site belonging to the rangatira Paora Kaiwhata, and served as the focal point where the tīpuna gathered in crisis on the 12th of October 1866. Reflecting on this legacy, the speakers recalled a commemoration held on those same grounds a century and a half later. That commemoration was designed to honour not only those who lost their lives on the battlefield, but every ancestor present during that fateful time, providing a profound moment of healing and linking the past, present, and future.
The historical overview further expanded into the ancestral diplomacy that shaped the modern region. Hōri Reti spoke of the 150th anniversary of the city of Napier, reminding the young people that the city itself exists because of a deliberate invitation by their tīpuna. He referenced a historical letter from the leaders of that era, which requested Pākehā settlement by stating: “Bring Pākehā for our land. May they be of high character. And their arrival will seal the unity between our two peoples.” Mullany noted that this invitation is a testament to the profound wairua and capacity for manaakitanga held by the tīpuna, who sought to care for and host people both from home and abroad - a grand vision of unity that the current generation is still striving to fulfill.
Shared Accounts and Reflections for the Future
The speaker's staff was subsequently passed to the visiting elders and leaders: Uncle Johnny Wano, Mana Hazel of Ngāti Hineuru, and Dylan Tāhau. Mana Hazel gave kōrero about his tipuna Te Rangihīroa, who with unwavering resolve, led his people, guiding the party steadfastly through the challenging terrain of Herepoho. Dylan Tāhau spoke directly of his own ancestor, Te Rangi Tāhau (of Hineuru and Tūwharetoa), who was present at Ōmarunui in 1866. While Te Rangi Tāhau was there supporting his Ngāti Hineuru whanaunga, Dylan also provided broader historical context regarding the influence and impact of the Pai Mārire movement on their people, as well as their recounting of Te Kooti in further engagements, such as at Ngatapa in Te Tai Rāwhiti.
In reflection, Mullany emphasized that the beautiful morning of shared kōrero served a vital purpose: celebrating their connections and remembering the deeds of the tīpuna so that the younger generation can fully understand who they are and what their place is in the world.
The report concluded by echoing a poignant quote shared by Uncle Denis O'Reilly: “All war is fratricide - brother killing brother, sister killing sister.” The final message left with the rangatahi was a collective challenge, reminding them that the responsibility lies with them to maintain and deeply value relationships, as it is through those enduring connections that they will successfully meet the challenges the future presents to their people.
