Tears for transfer of taonga but stormy weather a good sign

On Sunday 3 March 2012 a powerful storm described by locals as the worst in years pelted the Raglan Harbour. But for iwi involved in the relocation that day of a collection of precious taonga from its burial place in Horea (Te Akau) to its new resting place – the Raglan & Districts Museum – the bad weather was a good sign.

Raglan Museum Society president Patrick Day joined Ngaati Taahinga kaumatua, members of Ngaati Taahinga, museum staff, friends and supporters, in the convoy to move the taonga known as the Bird family collection from Horea to Raglan. The entire collection was relocated in one move, in line with cultural protocol.

The Bird family farmed on Te Akau’s coastal land – home of Ngaati Taahinga – from the early 20th century. Keith Bird collected, archived and cared for the taonga and ko iwi (human remains) found on the land, displaying the artefacts in cabinets in a small museum. The Bird family has now given that collection to the Raglan & Districts Museum as a longtime indefinite loan.

Greeting the convoy at the museum to welcome Ngaati Tahinga and acknowledge the arrival of the taonga were museum members and local iwi Ngaati Maahanga.

Ngaati Maahanga kaumatua Eru Thompson emphasised how significant it was for Ngaati Taahinga to allow the collection to be moved from its whenua to a different area and placed in the museum.

Mr Day acknowledged the privilege of having the mainly stone and bone artefacts – and one sizeable kiwi egg – now in the museum’s care. The collection also includes tools, carvings, pounamu, anchor stones and waka parts.

Spiritually the day the taonga was moved from Horea was a sad day for all Ngaati Taahinga from Mt Karioi to the Port Waikato River, whose direct descendants had lived and died in the Horea region for hundreds of years, said iwi spokesman, kaumatua Russell Wahangaoterangi Riki.

“Many tears were shed. All ko iwi in the collection being moved to the museum had been buried in a sacred place, so the tribe’s thoughts were with all those who died in Horea in battle including those from other regions and their descendents,” said Mr Riki.

“Many thanks are given to the Ngati Maahanga iwi for their support and for the emotional welcome of Ngaati Taahinga and taonga from the Horea region to the museum where they now reside.”

The collection is being stored in the Raglan Museum’s reserve collection where it will be studied and catalogued before an exhibition can be planned.