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Turia okays serving of kereru for special occasions

Author
(NZME. News),
Publish Date
Tue, 21 Jul 2015, 8:25AM

Turia okays serving of kereru for special occasions

Author
(NZME. News),
Publish Date
Tue, 21 Jul 2015, 8:25AM

UPDATED 3.00pm: Dame Tariana Turia has defended a marae for serving kereru at a meal for ministers, saying Maori should not be "criminalised" for serving it at special occasions.

Dame Tariana was one of three ministers at an iwi leaders' meeting at Maungarongo marae in 2013 at which kereru was served. But she says she left before the meal was served and doubted she would have recognised it as kereru.

She added that she had never eaten the protected bird. "I don't like game. My stomach has become very Anglicised."

However, she supported Ngati Rangi's decision to offer it at what they considered a special occasion.

"They chose to offer that because it is one of the most significant delicacies we have. I think based on what they believe I probably would support them."

Dame Tariana said a cultural take should be allowed but only for special occasions for a marae. The bird was depleted not because Maori were eating them, but because deforestation, exotic species and water pollution had destroyed much of their habitat, she said.

"To me, the issue is that our people are being criminalised for what was a normal practice."

She did not know the circumstances around Sonny Tau, who is being prosecuted under the Wildlife Act after he was found with kereru at Invercargill airport. "But there is a big difference between a significant occasion where these things are served up by mana whenua who have a responsibility to look after a resource, and to receiving it as a gift or taking it because you like eating them."

However Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry has made it clear she is no fan of rules protecting endangered species being relaxed for cultural purposes.

"Maori ate moa as well. We don't want to eat birds to the brink of extinction, that is not appropriate in this day and age."

Prime Minister John Key said the other two ministers - Amy Adams and Nathan Guy - were completely unaware kereru was served at the marae dinner. "But if the marae is saying they served it, they would certainly know ... but when you go to a marae, usually it is communal and people are dining with lots of different dishes put in the middle, some of which people eat, and some of which people don't."

Marae spokesman Che Wilson told the Herald between three and five birds were given to them by the Department of Conservation over an 18-month period.

Feathers were used for weaving and the birds saved for special occasions such as the leaders' hui. He said DoC was unaware that the birds would be eaten. "They were dead birds DoC had and gave to us. They didn't have enough room in their freezer, so they gave them to us over about 18 months."

The kereru were served with miro berries.

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