April 12, 2018
Ngati Paoa calls for rahui at Hunua as pig hunters track disease spores
Two Auckland iwi want to ban recreational pig hunting in the Hunua ranges in a bid to protect the forest from kauri die back disease.
Hauauru Rawiri from Ngati Paoa says his iwi and Ngati Whananuga have called the rahui, and it’s likely Ngati Tamaoho and Ngai Tai ki Tamaki will also come on board.
He says pig hunters move from forest to forest, and the fear is they will track soil from the Waitakere Ranges or other infected forests into the Hunua ngahere.
"Kauri die back is there. In the Hunua Ranges it is not there yet. How do we prevent and stop kauri die back getting into the Hunua Ranges? And the highest risk is the recreational pig hunters," Mr Rawiri says.
The iwi are working with Auckland Council to try to gain support for the rahui.
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