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Chief’s grave ‘risks cultural embarrassment’

Flagstaff Team

Needs work… Patuone’s headstone and the fence around his grave were funded by Governor George Grey

Urgent work is needed on the grave of Maori chief Patuone, sited on Takarunga, prior to the 150th anniversary of his death, says Grey Power North Shore president Bill Rayner.

Nothing had been done to fix issues laid bare in 2016, when an Auckland Council ceremony to honour the Ngā Puhi rangitira was relocated at the iwi’s behest due to the disrespectful state of the urupa (burial site), Rayner said.

Council had to “walk the talk” of its commitment to recognise te ao Māori or again risk a major cultural embarrassment, he said.

“An extremely urgent requirement of the local board/Auckland Council is to begin restoration and improved maintenance to the poor current state of the cemetery in recognition of this special event,” he told the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

With Patuone’s Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Paoa iwi expected to gather for the anniversary, a repeat of what occurred six years ago could not be allowed. Ngā Puhi cancelled a grave-site handing over of heritage tukutuku panels honouring Patuone, with the ceremony having to be shifted to the council office in Takapuna, where they hang in the meeting room.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member George Wood asked officers to report on what was being done in preparation. Member Trish Deans said: “We need to look at this issue.”

Patuone’s headstone, and a fence around his grave, were paid for by Governor George Grey in 1872, in recognition of his mana.

The grave was maintained by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and regularly visited by descendants. “It’s a Category 1 site.”

The cemetery was sloping and difficult to maintain adequately by standard methods used by council contractors, Deans said. Ride-on mowers were not appropriate and some grave edges had been damaged. By comparison to the adjoining Catholic cemetery, which she said was well cared for, the Anglican cemetery was not.

Council needed to draw up a special maintenance agreement, she suggested. “We as a board really need to show our respect as well.”

Rayner says the most urgent matter is ensuring there is a working tap to meet cultural requirements. “Most importantly for Maori tikanga is the need for a water availability and the tap near the grave is not working.

“The situation is now critical.”

Rayner said that with Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Winiata whakapapa – as well as long-standing pakeha family linkage with the Shore – the matter was personally important to him, as it was to many other local residents, both pakeha and Maori.

The graves of his colonial ancestors, Gladwyn and Mary Ann Wynyard, next to Patuone’s, had recently been restored. “Patuone and Gladwyn Wynyard were contemporaries and friends, with Patuone requesting to be buried next to Wynyard,” said Rayner.

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