By Katie Doyle of 
The mood was reflective at Thursday’s dawn ceremony at Takaparawhau to commemorate the Bastion Point occupation. Photo: Stuff / Chris McKeen
The mood was reflective at Thursday's dawn ceremony at Takaparawhau to commemorate the Bastion Point occupation.
The hum of karakia greeted the sun as it rose over Takaparawhau, where hundreds were gathered on Thursday to remember the final day of the Bastion Point occupation.
Exactly 45 years to the day since police and army personnel, under government orders, forcibly removed protesters from the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei whenua, the people came together again in honour of those who sacrificed so much.
Huddled around fire pits, they listened as a roll-call of names was read out of those who dedicated themselves to the cause in 1978.
"We can raise our hands and say we won because we did. But we lost, as well," said Te Aroha Alec Hawke, whose five-year-old daughter, Joannee, died in a fire during the 506-day occupation.
More than 200 people were arrested on the final day at Takaparawhau, including Polynesian Panther Tigilau Ness.
Coming back to the whenua 45 years later served as a reminder of the indigenous victory he had been a part of, Ness said.
"I'm glad to be alive to tell the tale and then to see the wonderful, victorious celebration today. I think it should be known worldwide."
Memories of occupation leader Joe Hawke resonated through the ceremony. Photo: Stuff / Chris McKeen
Front of mind for many was the memory of Ngāti Whātua and Bastion Point occupation leader, activist and politician Joe Hawke, who died in 2022 and was buried on Takaparawhau.
As the morning ceremony came to a close, members of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei performed haka and waiata in his memory.
For Joe Hawke's nephew, Barney Hawke (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whātua), being at Takaparawhau was an emotional experience.
"I don't know how to express it. But you know, I'm pretty proud. I'm very proud of what our family achieved, for everyone, really."
While it felt different without "Uncle Joe", Barney Hawke reckoned he would be proud of how everybody came together to continue his legacy.
The dawn ceremony also attracted 17-year-old Xanthe Williams, who got up early to take part so she could learn more about the history of Takaparawhau for her te reo Māori class.
"Currently we're writing essays about occupation songs, waiata, and mine is about Takaparawhau by Majic Paora, so I just thought it was important to come up here today."
The dawn ceremony was one of several events hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on Thursday. Photo: Stuff / Chris McKeen
The dawn ceremony was just one of several events hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on Thursday to commemorate the occupation.
Later in the day, several panel discussions were set to take place, including one relating to other significant land occupations, including Raglan and Pākaitore.
Video clips of people from the Takaparawhau occupation were due to be shown, and after a break for kai, there would be time for spoken-word poetry.
Later on, a second panel planned to feature New Zealander of the Year Professor Rangi Matamua, leading Māori astronomy expert and the chief adviser to the government on Matariki.
An R18 ticketed concert will round out the day with a stellar line-up of musicians including Herbs and Annie Crummer at the Tuning Fork near Spark Arena.
*This story first appeared on Stuff
