Hāwai is a coastal settlement in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Hāwai is in the rohe (traditional tribal area) of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. [1]
Te Whānau ā Apanui placed a rāhui on over 130 kilometres of coastline, west from Hāwai, following the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption. [2]
During the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui set up road checkpoints to monitor and restrict travel into and through Hāwai. [3] The restrictions were supported by Ōpōtiki District Council and New Zealand Police. [4] According to The Guardian, the checkpoints operated 24 hours a day, unlike checkpoints set up by other iwi in other settlements. [5]
The restrictions lasted 47 days, from 12pm on 25 March until the delivery of a karakia at 12pm on 11 May. [6] [7]
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui also set up initiatives during the lockdown to ensure elderly residents of Hāwai had access to essentials. [8]
The settlement has two marae of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.
Maraenui Marae is a meeting place for the hapū of Te Whānau a Hikarukutai; its meeting house is called Te Iwarau.
Tunapahore Marae is a meeting place for the hapū of Te Whānau a Haraawaka; its meeting house is called Haraawaka. [1] [9]
Te Kura Mana Maori Maraenui is a co-educational Māori language immersion state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, [10] with a roll of 48 as of February 2024. [11]
37°55′18″S 177°31′41″E / 37.921742°S 177.528046°E