Members of Te Upokorehe gathered at Hukutaia Domain last Saturday to commemorate a significant event in the iwi's history at one of its most tapu sites.

About 60 people visited the site throughout the morning to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by Wi Akeake in 1940.

Iwi chairman Wayne Aramoana says it was a momentous occasion, both because it was commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by their tipuna along with the significance of Taketakerau, the 2000-year-old puriri tree, as an important waahi tapu for the Te Upokorehe Takutai Moana claim.

'It was a spiritual, emotional and beautiful day. We were blessed to have our kaumatua there, including Wallace Aramoana, Trevor Ransfield, Harold Ruff and Te Urikore Tuari and kuia Olive Aramoana.

A karakia was performed at the waharoa at the entrance to the site that was carved in recent years by Lance Reha for the 100-year centenary of the domain.

'We celebrated the footprint of our tipuna and the significance of Taketakerau, which was used as a burial place for bones of tipuna, and is one of several waahi tapu that gives evidence to Upokorehe presence in the area since before the arrival Whakatōhea.”

Members of Te Upokorehe gather at the waharoa carved by Lance Reha.

Karakia were also performed at the Taketakerau itself.

The site is included among wāhi tapu protections Te Upokorehe has applied for in stage two of the Takutai Moana applications for customary marine title, for which hearings are due to begin in the High Court on Wednesday next week.

Te Upokorehe has also made applications for customary marine title and protected customary rights.

The gathering visited the burial tree, the 2000-year-old puriri tree Taketakerau.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air