A-Z of Aotearoa: U for Te Urewera

It's time now for the A-Z of Aotearoa! We've been making our way through the alphabet, choosing something iconically Kiwi for each letter. This week we've arrived at 'U', and our subject is a place shrouded in geographic beauty and indigenous knowledge, Te Urewera. It's the home of the Tuhoe iwi, and it lies in the wide, mountainous space between Rotorua and Gisborne. For 60 years much of Te Urewera was designated a National Park, then in 2014 - following a Waitangi Tribunal settlement - the land was granted environmental personhood. In October 2007, Te Urewera was also the grounds for one of New Zealand's darkest days, poet and activist Ati Teepa talks to Jesse about his experience in the police raids. We also want to focus on the environment and geography of Te Urewera, and for that, Jesse is joined by Hinewai McManus Hinewai is of Tuhoe descent, and she's a former DOC ranger who also guided treks in Ngaputahi near Ruatahuna for many years.