Threat to burn Maketū Marae as Kāwhia landowners shut beach to vehicles
People backing a vehicle ban on a Kāwhia beach have been threatened, most recently with the burning of Maketū Marae, according to Daisy Horahaere Scott of Ngāti Hikairo and Ngāti Mahuta, speaking to Te Ao Māori News.
The marae sits on the northern shore of Kāwhia Harbour. Te Ao notes it is the resting place of the Tainui waka from Hawaiki.
"To threaten the destruction of our marae is very concerning," Scott told Te Ao. She said the threat had not changed anyone's mind: "Everyone was adamant that we will continue and not take these threats."
Te Ao reported the threats on Friday. Neither Te Ao nor RNZ says whether police have been told.
The Onepū Charitable Trust, which RNZ identifies as chaired by Scott, is closing the last gap in its barrier on Saturday, just as Labour Weekend visitors arrive. RNZ describes two-metre wooden poles running from the end of the Maketū marae seawall towards the low-tide mark. Half were already in when RNZ reported, with a gap left for cars. That gap closes from Saturday. Walkers and horse riders can still get through to the lagoon.
The trust says vehicles are wrecking a food source the hapū has relied on for generations. Scott told Te Ao that drivers have gone over pipi beds and got stuck in the sand, and some vehicles have been caught by the incoming tide and left in the water for two or three days.
Kaumātua Merv Ranga, 74, described the loss to RNZ. "We used to go and gather about a dozen sacks of pipi for the marae, and they're no longer there. They are dying."
