Sand dune planting at the burial reserve
The custodians of the burial reserve at the Te Naunau sand spit in Mōkau say dune planting is the only option for them – and that it is going well.
Marama Henare-Waho said Te Paerata whānau manage the area using dune planting, not solid structures which, they argue, accelerate erosion.
“From our point of view, managing erosion via sand dune planting is the only option for us, not a rock wall.
“This is our way of managing the erosion. It involves planting up the area above high tide mark, with known sand dune building plants like spinifex (kowhangatara) and pingao.”
“They are already using planting at Seaview camping ground and the Mōkau river with some success.”
Henare-Wano says at the burial reserve area this plan has been already put in place, supported by Stacey Hill from Coastcare, who works with Waikato Regional Council. A Cultural Impact report by Te Paerata whānau points to earlier photos showing Te Naunau covered in vegetation – which it says would have mitigated erosion.
“We work with, not against nature – but we are not sitting back and doing nothing either.
“We understand and accept that river mouths change. If [sea deities] Tangaroa and Hinemoana are going to take the urupā away, they will.”
“Erosion is a natural process. It happens a lot. We are aware of this. Our ancestors were aware of this.”
They knew the urupā was in the dunes, and therefore subject to the changing environment.
She said that if koiwi – bones – were uncovered, they would be reburied at another place, according to tikanga. While there were never headstones placed over the graves, this was in accordance with tradition, she said.
“We manage the burial reserve in accordance with our values and beliefs. Before houses were built on Te Naunau, the sand spit was not fenced. There were no head stones to mark where people were buried.”
