Petition addressed to:
Gisborne District Council (service@gdc.govt.nz)
We oppose the relocation of our ancestral home, Rangatira Marae, and all associated buildings, titles, reserves, accounts, and earnings.
We believe that our ancestral home should remain as it is and not be transformed into a commercial hub carrying the name bestowed upon us by our tupuna (ancestors). While we support the creation of a commercial hub for the Gisborne region, we request that Rangatira Marae, along with its reserves, income, accounts, and earnings connected to the land and name under "Rangatira," remain under the stewardship of whānau (family) and iwi (tribe), rather than being opened for public use.
Reason
Our marae is not just a building; it is a living, breathing symbol of the whakapapa, and ancestral ties, that bind our iwi and whānau to a land steeped in history. Our marae serves as a sacred space where generations come together, preserving traditions, fostering whanaungatanga, and honouring the mana whenua.
Moving our marae would sever these intergenerational connections, undermining the spiritual bond between our people and our land that has been nurtured according to our tupuna wishes for centuries.
The whenua itself holds the memories and stories of our tupuna, and to remove the marae from this sacred space would disrupt the flow of whakapapa, once again severing future generations from their ancestral roots.
Our whenua and our marae are inseparable, any relocation risks eroding the very fabric of our cultural identity and continuity for our iwi.
Protecting our marae in its current location is not just about preserving a building; it is about preserving the living heritage that sustains our community and our whānau, sense of belonging, identity, and spiritual well-being.
