Who are we?

We are an Environmental Conservation Organisation based at Te Wāotū in the South Waikato.  Our members are mostly from Ngāti Huri (Pikitū Marae, Raukawa) who are deeply connected to the area over many generations, but are spread nationwide.  It is our obligation and privilege to be active kaitiaki to ensure that these places are protected for our mokopuna.  

Click here to learn more about Raukawa

Click here to learn more about Ngāti Huri and Pikitū marae

Where is Te Wāotū?

Te Wāotū is in the South Waikato District and sits within a wider cultural landscape which extends from Waipapa to Arapuni. Framed by the edges of the Waikato River, and its rising escarpment edges, the area holds a culturally rich and diverse landscape within a relatively small and concentrated area (approximately 12km).

Te Wāotū falls within the traditional lands of the Ngāti Huri hapū, which is now one of the only actively maintained hapū in the area and acts as kaitiaki for a number of other hapū that have traditionally been known to occupy the area. Te Wāotū is the site of one of the first Native Schools in the Waikato, which opened in 1886, and is the standing place of a number of ancestral and ecological sites of significance to hapū and the wider iwi of Raukawa.

What are we trying to achieve?

We are trying to protect Te Wāotū from destruction and loss, while at the same time, raising awareness and educating our community about the wāhi tapu in our area.

Since 2014, we have been urgently trying to save Pirauiti Pā, one of the 13 pā sites within Te Wāotū. Pirauiti Pā is officially recognised by the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) as a site of significance, but the Pā site is being destroyed by adjacent quarrying activities.  

Why are Te Wāotū and Pirauiti Pā important?

Pirauiti pā is one of 13 pā sites that form a network along the Waikato River. This network of pā sites worked together in a similar way to the famous scenes in “Lord of the Rings” when they lit the network of Beacons atop of the Mountains, to signal help was needed for an upcoming battle.  In the same way, these pā sites communicated between each other using kites, for example to warn of approaching danger from unknown waka coming up the Waikato River.  Pirauiti Pā is one of those important pā sites within the network. 

The area holds rising escarpment edges, puna, kāinga and urupā.  It is a culturally rich and diverse landscape that contains ngā tapuwae o ngā tūpuna (the footprints of our ancestors).

These sacred places and the interconnectivity between them are relevant, important and indeed fundamental to who we are as Ngāti Huri, as the iwi of Raukawa and as a community at Te Wāotū.

Click below to visit the Waipapa ki Arapuni Wāhi Ahurei Cultural Landscape mapping initiative. Here you can take a virtual 3D flyover of this important landscape, learn more about it's cultural significance to Raukawa Iwi, and more.

Click here to visit the Waipapa Waipapa ki Arapuni Wāhi Ahurei Cultural Landscape mapping initiative

Who owns the land that Pirauti Pā is on?

The land is owned by a private family Trust, and leased to the quarrying company Wāotū Quarries Limited, owned by J Swap Contractors Limited.

Is Pirauiti Pā “protected”?

Pirauiti Pā is wāhi tapu, and as such, wāhi tapu are important as taonga to be protected (both physically and spiritually). They are provided protection under the Resource Management Act 1991 and Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga Act 2014. In 2015, Pirauiti Pā site became a registered New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) site (116/184).  In their investigations, NZAA describe Pirauiti Pā as a “small headland pā overlooking the Waikato River and features a causeway, pit, terrace and defensive ditch” which includes an area that has been identified as a potential burial mound (NZAA 2015).

Do we have a good lawyer?

Yes, we have an excellent lawyer, and she is walking with us on every step in our journey.

What’s happening, and how can I get involved?

A small dedicated team has been very busy since 2014, engaging with the relevant parties, such as Waikato Regional Council, South Waikato District Council, local landowners and the quarry owner and operator J Swap Contractors Limited. However as the situation has become more dire, and urgent, awareness is growing and there is now a groundswell movement. More recently we have started peaceful protest, erected signage and held multiple hui. You are welcome to attend!!

Please support us by joining our facebook page, following us on instagram and raising awareness of whats happening within your own hapū and wider network. Our various initiatives and calls to action are posted on our social media sites. We need your help and support.

“He waka eke noa”

“We are all in this together”