On Saturday 13 June at 10am, the trust deed for Te Poāri a Pukekura was signed at a ceremony at the Royal Albatross Centre. This is the joint management group for Pukekura, made up of the rūnanga members, Korako Karetai Trust, Dunedin City Council, and the Department of Conservation, and it is the culmination of many years of work.

The date is an auspicious one – the 175th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by Korako and Karetai on the HMS Herald, just off Pukekura. [Read more…]

On 20 September, members of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou had an opportunity to walk around the wildlife reserve at Pukekura (Taiaroa Head), hosted by the Department of Conservation.

Access to the reserve is very restricted because it is the only mainland breeding ground for northern royal albatross. We quickly snapped up the opportunity as the ground is a predominant feature of Ōtākou history. A number of other stakeholders were invited as well, which was fantastic for all tamariki and pakeke. Port Otago representatives brought the key to the lighthouse with them. [Read more…]