Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 21, 2020 4:13:15 GMT 12
TOURISTS STILL BARRED FROM CAPE REINGA DESPITE DROP TO ALERT LEVEL 2
Despite dropping to Alert Level 2, one of the country's top tourism spots in Northland remains blocked off by iwi.
Dozens of tourists are being turned away from Cape Reinga by local iwi, despite tourism and hospitality in the region trying to encourage visitors to the area.
Northland MP Matt King made a video of a confrontation that took place with iwi as he tried to access the location.
“It's my customary rights and I’m prepared to knock you out if you pass that gate,” a person blocking access says in the video.
“Northland is a beautiful place with beautiful people in it and we've got a lot to offer and I just want to see the roadblocks taken down and us just getting back to business,” Mr King says.
Ngāti Kuri says that is what it wants too, but first the sacred site must be cleansed.
Māori tradition holds that after death spirits travel there to depart.
"There is a responsibility and obligation and opportunity to move us through to Level 1 by having an appropriate opening so spirits can move toward te rerenga wairua,” Harry Burkhardt of Ngāti Kuri says.......
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tourists-still-barred-cape-reinga-depsite-drop-alert-level-2
Despite dropping to Alert Level 2, one of the country's top tourism spots in Northland remains blocked off by iwi.
Dozens of tourists are being turned away from Cape Reinga by local iwi, despite tourism and hospitality in the region trying to encourage visitors to the area.
Northland MP Matt King made a video of a confrontation that took place with iwi as he tried to access the location.
“It's my customary rights and I’m prepared to knock you out if you pass that gate,” a person blocking access says in the video.
“Northland is a beautiful place with beautiful people in it and we've got a lot to offer and I just want to see the roadblocks taken down and us just getting back to business,” Mr King says.
Ngāti Kuri says that is what it wants too, but first the sacred site must be cleansed.
Māori tradition holds that after death spirits travel there to depart.
"There is a responsibility and obligation and opportunity to move us through to Level 1 by having an appropriate opening so spirits can move toward te rerenga wairua,” Harry Burkhardt of Ngāti Kuri says.......
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tourists-still-barred-cape-reinga-depsite-drop-alert-level-2