TNP Centennial celebrated

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 18, 29 September 1987, Page 1

TNP Centennial celebrated

The sounding of a conch shell heralded the arrival of Parliamentary and Maori dignitaries to the official national park's centennial celebrations of Tongariro National Park last Wednesday. Prime Minister David Lange arrived at Whakapapa Village in an Iriquois helicopter and joined the rest of the party to accept the wero (challenge) by the Tuwharetoa tribe, the people of the land. Mr Lange and Chief of the Tuwharetoa tribe, Sir Hepi Te Heuheu hosted the event which centred around the new look Whakapapa Visitor Centre and the THC Chateau. National Parks in New Zealand began with the gift to the people of the volcanic peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu by the Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief, Te Heuheu Tukino IV in 1887. The peaks became the centre of the country's first national park, Tongariro. Celebrations began officially at 5.30am, with a dawn ceremony attended by Tuwharetoa elders, their supporters and members of tribes from the central North Island. The people of Ngati Tuwharetoa paid homage to Mount Tongariro and their respects to their ancestors by way of prayers and incantations and a ceremony conducted by a tohunga (priest). The park's revamped Visitor Centre, its carvings

and bust of the paramount chief set in a prominent position inside, was also blessed. • An official memorial plaque was unveiled outside the Whakapapa Visitor Centre by Sir Hepi Te Heuheu and chairman of the T aupo/T ongariro N ational Parks and Reserves Board, Roger Holyoake. The ceremony was attended by a number of officials including the Minister of Conservation Hon. Helen Clark and the Associate Minister of Conservation, Hon. Fran Wilde. The bowling green at the THC Chateau became a marae for the day and officials received a series of three challenges which were accepted by the Gov-ernor-General Sir Paul Reeves, Hon. Jim Bolger and Hon. David Lange. The challenges were followed by a powiri performed by ihe assembled tribes and a haka performed by the Tuwharetoa.

One of the highlights of the day was the performances by the children from National Park Primary

School, Tongariro High School, Ruapehu College and T aumarunui High Cont'd on p. 13