Tyra Begbie, Klee Begbie, Lisa Begbie, Naomi Simmonds, Kyea Watene-Hakaraia, Arahia Moeke and Ngahuia Kopa. Photo / Supplied
Tyra Begbie, Klee Begbie, Lisa Begbie, Naomi Simmonds, Kyea Watene-Hakaraia, Arahia Moeke and Ngahuia Kopa. Photo / Supplied
Seven women have retraced the journey of their ancestress Māhinaarangi.
Led by Dr Naomi Simmonds, the seven Ngati Raukawa wāhine set off on a three-week 372km hīkoi across the North Island.
The group's arrival at Rangiātea Pā on Sunday marked the end of a 372km journey from Te Hauke, through Napier, Wairoa, Whakatāne and across the Mamaku and Kaimai ranges.
Māhinaarangi, of Ngāti Kahungunu, travelled more than 500km from Kahungunu (near Te Aute) to Rangiātea, while heavily pregnant. On the way, she gave birth to a son, Raukawa, from whom all seven wāhine descend.
Simmonds, a senior lecturer and researcher at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, said she had spent years researching the journey of Māhinaarangi as part of PhD research.
"Starting this journey, as a Raukawa wāhine, I wanted to get a deeper sense of who our ancestress Māhinaarangi really was and the diverse lands and rivers she would have travelled through," she said.
"The one thing that was missing was the actual physical experience of the haerenga itself. It was an incredible privilege to follow, even if not in its exact form, the path that Māhinaarangi likely took to Rangiātea, and to have six strong Raukawa wāhine join me in this mission."
The seven wāhine slept and ate at marae, kura and Department of Conservation huts throughout the three-week walk. Photo / Taku Ara Rā: Ko Māhinaarangi
Simmonds was joined by Ngahuia Kopa, Lisa Begbie, Tyra Begbie, Klee Begbie, Arahia Moeke and Kyea Watene-Hakaraia.
Klee Begbie was the youngest of the wāhine, aged just 18.
The New Zealand Māori under-18 rugby player said she participated in the hope of connecting with Māhinaarangi.
"I know she must have been such a strong woman to do what she has done – to leave her whānau, walk while pregnant, birthing and mothering along with way," she said.
"Living in this Pākehā society, it's quite hard to connect with the whenua in every way, sense and form."
The group slept and ate at marae, kura and Department of Conservation huts along the way.
Simmonds said the wāhine formed strong bonds over the three-week task in challenging terrain and conditions.
"Walking approximately 25km a day, there was definitely some sweat and tears, but we wouldn't change anything," she said.
"We achieved what we set out to do, including reconnecting with our tribal stories, ancient knowledge, lands, lakes and rivers. In doing so, we were able to really soak in what it meant to be Raukawa wāhine in contemporary Aotearoa, and our unique identity and history."
