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Kete Kōrero: The Endangered Pūpūharakeke
​On behalf of the Te Hāpua community, Saana Murray gifted these two kete to the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa weavers at the 1995 National Weavers’ Hui, as the biennial gathering was that year held at her marae, Te Hiku O Te Ika, in Te Hāpua. They were received by Cath Brown as Chair of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu at that time.
 
The smaller of the two kete contains a taonga: a small pūpūharakeke shell. Following her work on the Wai 262 claim, Saana Murray wore a fossilised pūpūharakeke shell rei as a tohu of her kaupapa. Throughout her life, Saana fought tirelessly for tino rangatiranga over taonga Māori, and the pūpūharakeke represents only one of the many issues held close to her heart as an advocate.​
Picture
Saana Murray (left) wearing her pūpūharakeke rei, inaugural Kāhui Whiritoi Gathering, Rotorua, 2006. Image courtesy of Christina Hurihia Wirihana.
​Pūpūharakeke are significant to Saana's people, Ngāti Kurī, as, historically, they would warn of trouble coming from the sand hills. Incoming war parties would inadvertantly crush their shells underfoot, which could cause the pūpūharakeke to wail. Cold, unpredictable winds could drive the pūpūharakeke deeper into their shells, causing the shell to emit a whistling noise as the wind passed over its opening. Thus, the pūpūharakeke played an important role in enabling Saana’s tūpuna to evade danger and now link Ngāti Kurī to their ancestors as kaitiaki of the iwi.
 
Once plentiful in the North, the clearing of coastal forest by the Crown has destroyed the pūpūharakeke’s natural habitat and endangered the species. A remnant of the pūpūharakeke population survived on Poor Knights Island, but they could not be accessed by Ngāti Kurī due to the Crown’s creation of scientific reserves. Saana saw Ngāti Kurī as the guardians of pūpūharakeke and argued that kaitiakitanga of such a precious taonga should not be taken away. ​
Written by Lily Kara-Liu (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāpuhi). 08 Feb 2023.
Saana Murray
History of TRRWOA
History of Weavers National Hui
Weavers National Hui Customs
TRRWOA Waiata
TRRWOA Kete
TRRWOA Kakahu

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Toi Māori aotearoa - Māori arts new zealand

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  • Toi Tū Toi Ora Toi Māori
    • About Us
    • Our Trustees >
      • Trevor Maxwell CBE
      • Tracey Morgan
      • Ranui Ngarimu ONZM
      • Robert Gabel
      • Tā Derek Lardelli
      • Lady Rose Gould-Lardelli
      • James George
    • Committees >
      • Carving >
        • Māori Markings Tā Moko Exhibition
      • Music >
        • Pao Pao Pao History
      • Performing Arts
      • Tā Moko
      • Tikanga
      • Visual Arts
      • Waka >
        • Waitangi Waka Pageant
        • International Waka Paddlers
      • Weaving >
        • Kete >
          • TMA Kete 15
          • TMA Kete 10 & 11
          • TMA Kete 13 & 27
          • TMA Kete 2-6
      • Writing >
        • Te Hā Kaituhi Māori 2019
        • Te Whē - Bilingual Māori literature journal launches in Te Reo heartland
    • Ngā Tangata >
      • Tai Awatea >
        • Derek Lardelli
        • Kahui Whiritoi
        • Rangi Kipa
        • Anaru Irwin
        • Namaka Kerr
        • Sonia Snowden
        • Robert Gabel
      • Tai Ahiahi >
        • Waana Morrell Davis
        • Hekenukumai Busby
        • Hirini Melbourne
        • Emily Schuster
        • Rangikawehea Sinclair Paul
        • Saana Waitai Murray
  • Toi Māori Projects
    • MAI Programme
    • Te Hono ki Aotearoa >
      • Te Hono ki Aotearoa - 10th Anniversary
    • Hinemoana Waka >
      • Hinemoana Story
      • Hinemoana Waka History
      • Hinemoana Activities and Events
    • Annual Tribal Canoe Journeys >
      • Aotearoa To Canada: A Tribal Canoe Journey
    • Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore >
      • The Eternal Thread Tour
      • The Art of Māori Weaving Book
  • Toi Māori Gallery
    • 2018 >
      • He Timatanga Hou - A New Beginnings Exhibition
      • Kirihou - Hohua Thompshon Solo Exhibition
      • Words Remains - Ngā kupu ka mau tonu
      • Tūārangi Exhibition
    • 2020 >
      • Ara Mai Nuku
      • Te maramatanga aoao nui
    • 2021 >
      • Atā Tū
      • Toi o Taranaki ki te Tonga
      • Ngā Poopokorua a Rua
      • Whakakai
      • Tā Derek Lardelli Tū Takawhiti - 40 year Retrospective Exhibition
    • 2022 >
      • Whiriwhiria
      • 2022 Aotearoa Art Fair
  • Contact