MEX The Return

David Tipu

David Tipu

Shaun Wharehoka (C), Paora Mackie (R).

Judith MacDonald.

Chanel Williams, Sandra Te Whaiti, Maryanne Pearse, Awhina Twomey and Valerie Moore.

Rurea (Lorrainn) Minnell.

Awhina Twomey

Kurutekau MacDonald.

Awhina Twomey and Valerie Moore

The tupuna

Rurea (Lorrainn) Minnell strokes the family cloaks on the tupuna.

In the meeting house-Wikitoria Chambers

Jeffrey Hynes.

Jeffrey Hynes leads the tupuna onto the Marae. Front row of pall bearers- Michael Fryer (L) and Howard Goold (R).

Kiley Nepia.

Kiley Nepia.

Jeremy MacLeod hongis Rev Canon Graeme Grennell.

David Tipu, Kiley Nepia, Jeffrey Hynes (slightly back) and Shaun Wharehoka.

Kiley Nepeia acknowleges the ancestors, letting them know that their descendants have arrived to take them home to rest, while members of the Ngai Tahu tribe stand by

Takahanga Marae. Kaikoura. Rangitane, lead by Jeffrey Hynes escorting the tapuna off Takahanga Marae to be loaded onto the vans for the journey home to Blenheim. Front men carrying the tapuna are Tom Rogers (L) and Peter Williams

Takahanga Marae. Kaikoura. Rangitane escorting the tapuna onto Takahanga Marae to rest for the night

Takahanga Marae. Kaikoura.

Judith MacDonald, Jane Poetsch, Margaret MacDonald.

Takahanga Marae. Kaikoura. Rangitane escorting the tapuna onto Takahanga Marae to rest for the night

Rangitane Collecting 700 year old ancestors from Canterbury Musuem, after they were taken 70 years ago by the Ngai tahu. Valerie Moore sits with the tupuna, as the Warriors stand guard. Warriors (L-R) Shaun Wharehoka, David Tipu, Paora Mackie, and Tyson Thwaites.

Te Ope Tu Taua o Wairau escorting Rangitane to be reunited with their Tapuna. (L-R)Kiley Nepeia, Shaun Wharehoka, Paora Mackie, Tamahau Nepeia. Richard Bradley holds the box.

Carrying the Tupuna, Peter C Williams, Francis MacDonald

Margaret MacDonald is he tangi hotuhotu (grieving over the deceased)

Judith MacDonald is acknowledging the matriach of the tupuna (mirimiri te wakahuia)

Margaret MacDonald and Valerie Moore are he tangi hotuhotu (grieving over the deceased).

Coming accross on the barge with the Tupuna to the Wairau Bar. (L-R) Sean Ogden, Wiremu Herbert, Tyson Thwaites, Jeffrey Hynes.

Cleansing ceremony. Kiley Nepia splashes water on the other boys

Burial of the Tupuna. Kiley Nepia clears the way.

Welcoming the Tupuna onto the Wairau Bar, Judith Mac Donald (centre)

Burial of the Tupuna.

Shaun Wharehoka

Burial of the Tupuna.

Burial of the Tupuna.