Whanganui National Park officially opened

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 34, 10 February 1987, Page 1

Whanganui National Park officially opened

Tiny Pipiriki on the Wanganui river was host to more than 800 people for the ceremonial opening of the new Whanganui National Park last Saturday. Strong sunshine with occasional misty rain made the township glisten as the guests listened to the many speakers both on the Pipiriki Marae and later at the Colonial House where a plaque commemorating the opening was unveiled by the Govenor General Sir Paul Reeves. The Whanganui National Park is the first to be created in New Zealand since the Mt. Aspiring National Park was opened in 1964 and will be one of the last. It comprises more than 74000 hectares made up of Crown land, scenic reserves and state forest. Guests at the celebrations included Conservation Minister Russell Marshall, Lands Minister Koro Wetere, as well as Waimarino representatives including Raetihi Mayor Garrick Workman and Ohakune Mayor Bill Taylor. The guests were welcomed onto Pipiriki Marae after the Govenor General Sir Paul Reeves and Lady Reeves met the official party at the entrance to the marae. Among the Tangata whenua welcoming the guests was Titi Tihu, who is a very highly respected elder of the Ngati Hauaroa, a visionary, and an expert in river tradition. Mr Tihu is believed to be more than 100 years old. Speakers from the Tangata whenua were Mark Cribb, Jack Gray, Hori

Hipango and Matiu Mariekura. Mr Cribb spoke of the growth that Pipiriki can now look forward to. He spoke with pride of the revival of the local community and the marae, comparing it to the new growth of the Pohutukawa tree that grows in the centre of the grassed area at the entrance to the marae. At the unveiling ceremony outside the Colonial House speeches were made by Tony Phillips, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who also acted as master of ceremonies, George Mollet, chairman of the Wellington National Parksand Reserves Board, David Thom, chairman of the National Parks and Reserves Authority, Hikaia Amohia, chairman of the Interim Wanganui River Trust Board, Koro Wetere as Minister of Lands, Russell Marshall as Minister of Conservation, and the Govenor General Sir Paul Reeves. Mr Mollet stressed the need for sufficient finance for the running of the park, asking that politicians of all parties ensure this when the management plan for the park is drawn up in two years time. Mr Thom said the occasion signified the greater understanding of the value of land. He said "soil and the land and people are one." Mr Amohia noted that the Wanganui river bed was excluded from the park. He said when he heard of the gazetting of the park he wrote to Mr Wetere asking that the title to the river bed be simultaneously trans-

ferred to the Maori people. Mr Amohia said he was pleased that the park would be available for recreation for everyone. Mr Wetere said he was deeply honoured to be assor ciated with the establishment of the park. He said the park contained the last remaining major stands of lowland forest in the country. Mr Marshall said that Maori and Pakeha have to work together and that Maori people must share in the wealth generated from the tourism development. He said as first Minister of Conservation he thanked all those who had worked so hard to give us such a wonderful gift. Sir Paul said in his speech that Maori people have given much to the life of the nation and they ought to receive thanks as well as recognition as the people of the land. He spoke of the generosity shown by the Maori people in the gifting of land to the crown which has made the park possible. The Whanganui National Park was "one of the loveliest stretches of land and river that one could possibly come across", he said. After the plaque was unveiled a dedication ceremony was performed by Senior Ratana Church Apostle RinoTirikatene. Sir Paul read the inscription on the plaque to the crowd -*-: ending the ceremonial part of the celebrations. The guests and the Tangata whenua then returned to the marae to a feast prepared by the people of Pipiriki and their families.