A large whale carcass washed up on Hokio Beach on Friday, the tide lapping at its side as a crowd of onlookers gathered on the sand; a fascination for some, and a gift for Muaūpoko. Iwi were at the beach observing tikanga (appropriate customs) and performing karakia (prayers) much of the day. David Unwin/Stuff Mungu Wiwarena, right, from Muaūpoko iwi, teaching his nephew Reihana Nahona the tikanga for receiving taonga from the sea. A Department of Conservation spokesman said the whale was an 18.75 metre-long baleen whale, the species identified by the absence of teeth. They had earlier narrowed it down to four species; a sei whale, pygmy whale, blue whale, or a bryde’s whale.

Source: Stuff September 04, 2020 02:55 UTC