When Richard Shepherd was a boy the Hikurangi Swamp was a wilderness and the houses to be seen from his home at Ngararatunua on the northern outskirts of Whangarei could be counted on two hands.
Now he's worried progress is destroying the heritage of his hapu.
Parekiore maunga once dominated the north-east skyline of the rohe of the Ngati Kahu o Torongare hapu, with six other mountains forming a semi-circle around the swamp basin.
Now the view has radically changed. Fences partition the drained swamp and there are scores of houses in view.
Hapu members realise the former swamp is a prime component in Northland's industry, but "with the tribal centre under pressure, we feel like a pimple - keep squeezing and we'll pop soon," said Mr Shepherd.