MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Full house for community discussion of famous Maori battleWriter and historian Roi McCabe attracted a sell-out crowd at the Annual Maungaturoto Rotary Foundation Address held at Kaiwaka recently.
Every seat was filled as locals came to hear a description and discussion of the significant battle of Te Ika-a-Ranganui that took place at Kaiwaka in 1825 – significant because so many people were killed or displaced. A Maori academic, and of Ngati Manuhiri descent, McCabe spoke of the importance of being able to discuss battles to honour those that have gone before, supporting the stories behind the tohu monument that commemorates the battle on the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai road. The discussion described a background to why the Ngapuhi rangatira Hongi Hika, by then armed with muskets, came by waka to Te Mangawhai, beginning a campaign against Ngati Whatua, the people of the Kaipara. Local Rotary club president Jim Taylor thanked people for their support and explained that the $2,150 proceeds from the event would support the Rotary Foundation polio eradication program. The following groups also earned $1,200 each from private supportive trusts on the night: Otamatea High School Kapa Haka, Otamatea High School Duke of Edinburgh, Point Curtis Boating Club, Otamatea Marae, Kaipara Sports Complex and Otamatea Whaiti Komiti. n A private trust supportive of Rotary also announced an essay competition on The Battle of Te Ika-a-Ranganui for students under 20. Those interested should contact Eileen Parsons at Maungaturoto 431 8055. The essay competition closes on June 20 with up to six prizes of $500 each. |
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