Wanganui River ‘always makes things better for me’

WHANGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Five years ago, the Whanganui River was recognized as a living person in a groundbreaking New Zealand law. For many of those who live along its banks, the official recognition validated the deep spiritual connection they feel with the river. They continue to feel the pull of its waters every day, whether it’s fishing, canoeing, or refreshing their lives.

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Ngahuia Twomey-Waitai, 28, walks toward the Whanganui River and bends down to pour water on her head in an action reminiscent of a baptism. She says that the river has been a big part of her life since she was born.

“I tend to come here quite often to cleanse myself, especially when I’m going through big changes in my life, regardless of whether they are good or bad,” he says. “The river always improves things for me.”

“Just being down here gives me a big smile and brings me peace with myself and my life.”

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Glenn Martin grew up in the small town of Piriaka and still lives there. He currently runs a business called Blazing Paddles, renting canoes to tourists.

The river is navigable for most: it is grade one or two along this section. Martin’s clients paddle downriver and typically camp or stay in cabins for one to five nights before he tows the canoes up the road.

“When you’re here on the river, it just takes you to another place,” he says. “It’s relaxing. It’s relaxing. It’s revitalizing.”

Martin, 65, loves all the activities the river has to offer, especially world-class trout fishing, and approves of its gaining personality.

“I think people take more pride in him and definitely take better care of him because he has a lot more respect,” he says.

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Fantails flutter at Aunt Sugar’s feet as she walks through the small Maori marae, or gathering place, she runs along the riverside town of Koriniti.

The 73-year-old’s real name is Jula Teki, but she is known to locals as Aunty Sugar.

“They call us the river rats. And we are the people of the river, the people of the river,” she says. “When the river flows well, everything is fine. When it floods, we all huddle together and know how the river is going to react. The road is likely to be closed, but that means nothing to us.”

She says that all the power schemes and farms along the banks have turned the river upside down. She says that the river gaining personality would make her ancestors proud.

“They would be in awe now, if they were alive,” she says. “They would be saying, ‘Wow. You did what we couldn’t do.’”

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Geoff Hipango says that it will take time, perhaps a generation or more, for the river’s health to be fully restored, but he is on the right track now.

Hipango, 55, grew up in the Te Ao Hou marae on the riverbank in Whanganui. These days, he manages mental health and addiction services for a tribal provider.

He says the state of the river is a victory not only for his tribe, but for the community at large, who also want to see its health improve for future generations.

He says it has been a privilege to see the river gain character after all the hard work of his elders, who never gave up their beliefs.

“I was really just embodying what our people have always recognized and lived through,” he says. “It’s just that the law caught up.”

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Associated Press religious coverage is supported through AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content.

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