Pūrau burial ground returned to hapū

Ownership and management of an important Māori urupā (burial ground) at Pūrau has been returned to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke. The site is the last remnant of the former Pūrau Native Reserve and is extremely important to the hapū.

Ngāti Wheke have been seeking the return of the urupā since the 1920s and last week’s transfer is the culmination of the most recent efforts, which began seven years ago.

Following strenuous petition from the hapū, Christchurch City Council applied to the Department of Conservation earlier this year to revoke the site’s reserve status, enabling ownership to be returned to the hapū.

Kaumātua Donald Couch says, “This whenua is the burial site for Tiemi Nohomutu, a Pūrau resident and leading Ngāi Tahu rangatira (tribal chief) during the first decades of European settlements in Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour as well as other tipuna.  The return of ownership enables us as kaitiaki to properly care for our tipuna.” 

Rāpaki Reserve Trustee Chair Kahu Piripi says, "If it wasn’t for the relentless tenacity and determination of our whānau over these past seven years and the many decades before, we wouldn’t be the rightful owners we are today. We will always be grateful for their efforts."

Council Regional Parks Manager Paul Devlin says the transfer to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke is cause for celebration.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point. More than a century has passed since discussions first started. There has, however, been a constructive and collaborative process over the past several years involving the Council, Ngāti Wheke, Ngāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation which has resulted in this positive outcome.

"We acknowledge the hurt and frustration experienced by Ngāti Wheke and we are pleased that finally the land in Pūrau has now been returned to its rightful owners."