Kia pai te noho, kia pai te haere
Ngāti Rārua has today quietly marked 25 years since the iwi began its journey toward Treaty settlement with the Crown.
This moment is not about ceremony or fanfare, but about honouring the people who carried Ngāti Rārua through long years of negotiations, adversity, and determination.
It is a time to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the sacrifices that ensured our iwi would have a pathway to reclaim mana motuhake, whenua, and cultural wellbeing for future generations.
Pouwhakahaere Shane Graham said the milestone was an opportunity to recognise both the challenges and the resilience of Ngāti Rārua.
“The start of the settlement process was not just about redress – it was about recognition. Recognition that the stories, struggles, and aspirations of the people mattered. Today, 25 years on, we stand on the shoulders of those who carried the kaupapa so that Ngāti Rārua could move forward with strength.”
While the commemoration is deliberately low-key, the iwi acknowledges with deep aroha all those who walked the journey – kaumātua, negotiators, advocates, and whānau.
“The settlement opened doors, but it did not close the chapter. It created new responsibilities – to restore te reo, care for our whenua, and uphold the wellbeing of our people. That work continues every day.”
As the iwi looks to the next 25 years, Ngāti Rārua affirms its commitment to the tongikura that guides its kaupapa: Kia atawhaitia i te tangata, kia pai te noho – Care for the people, so that we may all live well.
