A press release last Thursday, issued in the name of the Kāpiti-Mana Area Commander, Inspector Renée Perkins, said “a significant recovery operation” had taken place the previous day to recover both the pilot and passenger from the crash site.
It said:
Police would again like to thank our partners who assisted in the response and recovery phases of the operation, including Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Atiāwa ki Whakarongotai, Civil Aviation Authority and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
The role of iwi elders has been less obscure on previous occasions.
4 February 2020
Update – investigation into bones found at Auckland property
Police were continuing to carry out inquiries following the discovery of human remains at a Mt Eden property the previous week.
The identity of the deceased remained unknown.
This meant Police did not know if they were Maori or non-Maori bones. – but:
A karakia at the site is being arranged with local Kaumatua and we are grateful for their assistance.
February 22 2021
UPDATE: Police search for missing man in Waikato River
A body had been located in the search for a man who had gone missing following a water incident in the Waikato River, Onewhero.
The man reportedly came off his jet-ski.
Police have been supporting the family and a blessing and karakia was held at the site by local Kaumātua today.
December 1 2024
Rāhui placed at Waipu following river death
Patuharakeke Kaumātua had placed a rāhui at Waipu after the death of a woman at the Waipu River mouth.
The rāhui extended from the Waipu Boat Club to the Waipu River mouth, and from Uretiti – Tip Rd to Waipu Cove extending out 5km seaward.
As a sign of respect the community is asked to refrain from ocean-based activities in this area at this time.
This rāhui remained in place until 12pm, Wednesday 4 December.
12 January 2026:
Water-related incident at Lake Tikitapu/Blue Lake
Police were called about 10.30pm Friday 9 January after a man had not returned from a swim.
His body was located shortly after 1am on Saturday 10 January.
On Saturday Area Commander Herby Ngawhika joined kaumātua from Tūhourangi iwi at Lake Tikitapu for karakia to observe tikanga in lifting the tapu off the lake and restoring the wairua of the area.
The work done by kaumatua was not mentioned in the case of the media release last Thursday.
PoO emailed the Police Media Centre for that information.
We were likely to have followed up with questions about the ethnicity of the pilot and passenger who had been killed in the crash.
Questions should be raised about the propriety of subjecting staunch non-Maori Christians to Maori spiritual rituals.
What about atheists?
And how do Police know what blessings would be welcomed by the victims (if they could express an opinion) or their families?
Fatalities resulted from a car crashing into a South Westland River late in 2014.
It was retrieved by a crane on January 1 2015.
Local kaumatua Archdeacon Richard Wallace blessed the bodies before they were taken to Christchurch in a hearse for formal identification.
But West Coast area commander John Canning said the two bodies found in the car were believed to be those of a tourist couple visiting New Zealand.
Maori visitors from overseas, perhaps?
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
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