Nearly thirty years ago, on 17 March 1996, on one of the wildest day imaginable, three massive sperm whales / parāoa stranded along the length of Paekākāriki beach. This story is published on Reading Room.
Paekākāriki storyteller and poet Apirana Taylor, recipient of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry, was there on the day of the stranding, along with his whānau. He has written an evocative poem about the event.
storm bay
three whales washed
up on the beach waves
smashing tails whacking
wind and tides driving
the mighty leviathans
in and all we could do
was watch the whales
suffocating under
their weight this life
so cruel where wind
and wave rule
tomorrow the sea
will lie flat like a mirror
but on some nights
you’ll hear their
wairua
Many people who were there can remember the sense of horror, helplessness, and heartache associated with this happening, and its aftermath. A blubbery stench permeated the north end of Paekākāriki for days afterwards.
There were significant discussions over the harvesting of the whales’ taonga (mainly their jawbones, teeth and oil), and the best way to dispose of their carcasses among Iwi, the Department of Conservation and non-government agencies. This event helped establish correct tikanga and protocols for future strandings.
Later, the whales’ taonga was brought to Porirua’s Takapūwāhia Marae. A conference on the ‘Cultural harvest of stranded whales’ shared the outcomes of the 1996 process with other Iwi. Themes included: whale bone recovery using an ancient process but with modern tools; the role of government and non-government agencies and the implications of various legislation; health and safety factors; the value of increased knowledge; the question of ownership and kaitiakitanga; the use of whale meat for eating; and tikanga. (Ngati Haumia, Ngati Toa, Te Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai).
In November 1997, the whales’ taonga were returned to their Paekākāriki home when Ngāti Haumia hapu appointed the Paekākāriki Museum as kaitiaki.
Anybody interested should head on down to the Museum on the Railway Station, open between 1 and 3pm every Saturday and Sunday!
Thanks to Dave Johnson, Chair of the Paekākāriki Museum Trust, for kindly providing these photographs.
