About 50 people gathered at the Rongo Stone Memorial in Andersons Bay - which commemorates the 211 Maori prisoners transported to Dunedin between 1869 and 1879 -for the remembering Parihaka dawn commemoration service. Tonga Karena travelled from Parihaka for the service to speak on behalf of the community and express their thanks to Dunedin for commemorating her people. ‘‘[The service] was open, relaxing, calm and gentle,’’ Dr Te Kaawa said. Tonga Karena, of Parihaka, speaks to those who gathered at the Rongo Stone Memorial in Andersons Bay for the remembering Parihaka dawn commemoration service yesterday. It was important to acknowledge that history, Dr Te Kaawa said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 05, 2020 18:56 UTC