The site of a factory expected to create about 100 new permanent jobs in Tauranga has been blessed.
Winstone Wallboards, with local mana whenua in attendance, held a dawn ground blessing ceremony at the site of its new GIB® plasterboard facility in Tauriko this morning.
Winstone Wallboards general manager David Thomas said they were excited to have taken this significant step blessing the land alongside representatives from the Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngāti Hangarau hapu.
"The ceremonial whenua, or soil, removed as part of the site blessing has now been handed over to nearby Taumata School by representatives of Winstone Wallboards."
The local school will be the kaitiaki (guardian) of the whenua until the facility is completed and the whenua can be returned to the site.