Kia ora ra e nga whanaunga o Te Arawa waka,
This Sunday will see the first leg of Pukaki being moved from the Rotorua District Council to the Museum. This Sunday will see Koro Pukaki being taken to the Museum Facility in Tallyho Street for preservation work to be done. He will be there till October 2011 where he will make his move to the Museum.
Karakia were done last Saturday 09/10/10 to start the process for people to come and have their final time with him before he leaves the RDC. He has a Korowai over him and photos as well of his Pukaki whanau to adorn him.
On Saturday two conservators will look over Pukaki to check his state, the two conservators are the people who will be working with Pukaki over the year, Jack Fry who has worked with Pukaki over the years and Nick Tupara, a Maori Conservator with Ngati Whakaue whakapapa. Once this is done the Scaffolding team and Leo Rika will talk and then erect a scaffolding to aid in the lowering of Pukaki the next day. They may even lower him then if they think that that would be the safer option.
On the Sunday at 4:30 everyone will gather at RDC, Ngati Whakaue Koeke and Kuia, Te Arawa Koeke and Kuia and RDC dignatories and Pukaki Trust will gather by Pukaki with Tohunga and Ngati Whakaue tane and moving team.
Ngati Whakaue whanui will gather by the outside door of RDC and wait for Pukaki. The truck taking Pukaki will be at the end of the carpark, adjacent to the Police Station. Te Arawa uri will gather in the front of the truck, school children will line both sides of the streets.
At 5:00am the karakia will start and Pukaki will then be lowered from his plinth or lifted if he is already off and then taken out of the RDC building.
Once he emerges from the building Ngati Whakaue whanui will walk with him to the truck and Te Arawa will haka, pokeka, ngeri him all the way to the truck and then Pukaki will be put on the truck and depart for Tallyho Street.
Koeke and Kuia will get into their cars and head over to Tallyho Street to receive Pukaki.
As Pukaki travels he will head along Fenton Street heading over to Tallyho.
Now when he arrives at Tallyho he will be welcomed by Ngati Whakaue and Museum Koeke and staff. He will be carried into the taonga area and placed on a teepu which has been prepared for him. Once he has been placed on the teepu and he has been welcomed. All will head over to Whakaturia for a breakfast.
This is a brief description of the day and we invite all Ngati Pukaki, Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa waka descendants to come along to this event.
Ko te whao a Pukaki i waiho ki a Te Taupua ka rawe ka rawe ka wehi e.....
Nga mihi nui
Kingi Biddle
On behalf of Dr Paul Tapsell Chair Subcommittee
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