Muriwai celebrates the arrival of Pātaka Wai

Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo Trust kaikorero Parekura Brown senior says the unveiling of Muriwai’s new water supply system, Pātaka Wai, is a historic moment. “It’s a privilege to be able to see the fruition of the desires and efforts of our tipuna who have advocated to have water supplied directly for about 150 years.” Mr Brown (right) unveiled and blessed the pātaka, with assistance from Kiwa Brown (left) and Kate Kemp, of Ngai Tamanuhiri . Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

The Muriwai whanau came together to celebrate a historic milestone when their new water supply system, Pātaka Wai, was officially blessed on Friday.

The newly built system is part of a $2.5 million Government-funded project, which included the construction of a new water supply pipeline from Waingake to Muriwai, that was completed recently.

Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo Trust kaikorero Parekura Brown (senior) led the whakatau and spoke of the iwi’s historical connection to the whenua and wai.

“We  have a connection to Waingake . . . a story of how our ancestors fought for 150 years to have water supply directly to Muriwai, which was otherwise directed to Turanga only.”

He said the close-knit community of around 350 people had always relied on rainwater tanks as the source of drinking water for the 66 homes, marae and school.

“It’s been a long wait but it’s good to finally see our link being acknowledged.”

Gisborne District Council Māori engagement adviser Walton Walker praised the growing relationship between the council and the iwi.

“The mountain overlooking this region is a witness to the ongoing positive partnership. It has witnessed how the community fought for years and now this special moment.”

Trust chief executive Doug Jones acknowledged the tipuna and whanau who had advocated for water to Muriwai for generations.

“Connecting Te Muriwai to water is a major milestone for the village. It’s been a long time coming,” he said.

“The water source from the Mangapoike dams that provide Gisborne city its water is within Ngai Tamanuhiri tribal area.

“This has been piped from the Mangapoike dams for at least 70 years or more, so having the water to Te Muriwai has been a debate with councils for several generations of Ngai Tamanuhiri leaders and whānau.”

Mr Jones said it was no hidden fact that previous councils didn’t consider themselves as Te Tiriti partners .

“They didn’t want to acknowledge that they were the Crown and there was a cop-out. But what we have seen at present times is a willing council who have taken up the challenge to work with us and  acknowledge themselves as a Te Tiriti partner.”

Social benefits for village ‘outweigh any cost’

Mr Jones remembered a conversation he had with council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann, about three years ago, when he first started with the trust, where he talked about what an iwi and council relationship would look like.

“Since then we have had an iwi adviser working with the council and also have an agreed work programme around what info we are putting out. This way our voice is being heard.”

Mayor Rehette Stoltz thanked Ngai Tamanuhiri for the water from their land that had served the Tairāwhiti community.

“Having it piped to Muriwai was an overdue celebration,” she said.

She acknowledged the Government for funding the Muriwai project in 2020.

“We got this through the first tranche of Three Waters funding. It’s been an investment that’s well-loved and one this community deserves.

“As partners it’s not always easy as we don’t always get things right but we are trying and that to me is a small step in the right direction.”

After the blessing and unveiling of the Pātaka Wai, which houses four new water taps, Mr Jones said the facility had a water fountain at the right height for anyone in a wheelchair.

Four taps were set to fill a range of containers, a 750ml drink bottle,  two litre container, 10 litre container and a cube, in an automatic push-button system.

Even the community’s dogs have their own water dish filled from the Waingake supply. The water supply works without electricity on a hydraulic system.

GDC capital water projects manager  Murray Campbell said there were  two main components  to the Muriwai project.

The first was the construction of a new water supply pipeline from Waingake to Muriwai and the second was to develop a local bulk supply station for the community (Pātaka Wai) and supply for the marae, he said.

“The pipe went in the best, most cost-effective route possible,” Mr  Campbell said.

“The pipe travels via the Wairoa to Gisborne rail corridor for 6.7km which simplified hydraulic issues, significantly reduced costs, provided greater security to the pipe and brought minimal disruption to the community, land users and the travelling public.”

He said the social benefits for Muriwai far outweighed any money spent.

“Water supply has long been an aspiration for Ngai Tamanuhiri, who are the mana whenua for Waingake where the council’s water supply lakes are located.

“We’ve worked with them and changed the plans to better fit with the community which has worked out far better.”

.The designs and cultural aspects on the Pātaka Wai, were created by Ngai Tamanuhiri artist Maia Gibbs.

He spoke at length about the artwork which talks about the growth and connection to their wai and the importance of wai to Ngai Tamanuhiri.

The designs incorporated Waingake, water and the three generations of nannies who fought for the right to access water for their ancestral land.

They also tell the story of soldiers from the 28 Māori Battalion arriving home from World War  2 by train.

“The soldiers had to go to Gisborne for paperwork but when the train passed through Muriwai it came to a stop shortly past the village, as the Muriwai soldiers insisted they got off there.”

Mr Jones said the Pātaka Wai would help their whānau in the summer months when the norm was to pay for two  or three tank fills per year.

“That’s a saving of nearly $1000.”

Part of this project has also been to secure the community a water tanker for its own use to deliver water from the Pātaka Wai to the community’s tanks.

Eight Muriwai residents have been trained to become operators, so they can support local water distribution to the community.

Mr Jones thanked whānau, council and also the Muriwai school children for their waiata and haka.

Community member and kaumatua Mangu Kemp said the community was incredibly happy about the new water supply to their marae and the central point of the Pātaka Wai.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s here now.”