Their campsite is a quiet and respectful occupation of their ancestral lands and Pania explained how the land was taken off their people when they wouldn't pledge allegiance to the English queen (a treasonist act in those days) back in the 1860s and they were ordered off their lands and told to leave for the Waikato where the Kingitanga movement (Maori king) had been formed in resistance to the new settlers (Pakeha - Europeans) taking over their lands all over New Zealand, since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. They were later allowed to return but to a smaller reserve whilst the bulk of the lands were sold to the new European settlers and used for mainly farming and horticulture.
As she told the story of the history of her people, I was moved by her steady and measured eloquence, her patient and respectful discussion of what to me has been the continued raping and pillaging of their lands, a remnant of what we see today of what must have been an amazing testimony of early Polynesian now Maori technology. As we looked atop of maunga, with panoramic views, I knew that we were standing on a last bastion of a historical Polynesian settlement/s soon be buried under concrete and urban sprawled housing, a testimony to our technological advancement.
We then walked on the Otuataua Stonefields and listened to the history of what was once a thriving community with horticultural advancement, a trading post with stunning views for hundreds of years before European settlement and now reduced to rubble (in parts) by the vicious quarrying of many of their maunga (mountains) some of which no longer exist today. The stories of how some of their ancestors bones are buried in some of the lava caves soon to have houses built on top of them - incredible!
After sharing stories, we then shared lunch, parted ways and headed for Mangere Mountain, as it is known today, but it's Maori name is Te Pane o Mataoho which has an amazing story behind it. I obviously support the stand of Pania and her people and have encouraged them to tell their story and will koha (gift) my time to seeing this become a reality as so many people do not know the important history of Maori mana whenua (original indigenous descendants) in Mangere and the histories that need to be told to the next generations.
After walking around the maunga (mountain) and listening to the history while viewing the various features and the panoramic view of the other volcanic mountains of Auckland from the vantage point, I realise the importance and the magnitude of the what needs to be done in order to ensure that this encroaching does not continue to advance further and would implore that many, many more local and national iwi (tribes), communities, academics, churches, schools, families, friends, neighbours etc. need to visit Pania (our local warrior princess), hear her story and then respond in doing something about it i.e. "the right thing" to ensure that our next generations not only hear but can "see" history/herstory...
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