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One of Ngai Tahu's most significant historic sites has been gifted back to the nation.
The land, at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula, has been in private hands, but the owner believes it should be protected and enjoyed by both Maori and Pakeha.
A waka arrived at Okains Bay on Waitangi Day, just as Ngai Tahu did around 350 years ago.
Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon says a lot of the iwi's history in the region starts there. "And it's important that we acknowledge that and keep the past alive."
Tuesday was about celebrating that past, and the present. People have gone to the area for the last 30 years to mark Waitangi Day and this year's gathering was even more significant.
Back in 1849, so the story goes, local Maori were cheated out of 3,000 hectares of land.
Now local landowner Murray Thacker is gifting 20 hectares of coastal land and bush to the Queen Elizabeth II Trust, ensuring it is protected forever.
The land around Okains Bay is still basically undeveloped, and that's the way Thacker, wants to keep it.
"It's gorgeous yeah. Its just so valuable. With everything being bought at the moment by wealthy people, it'd be lost for sure."
He's gifting 20 hectares of coastal land and bush to the Queen Elizabeth II Trust, ensuring it is protected forever.
Sir Brian Lochore of QEII Trust says it's a lovely little bay. "And it has a lot of history, along with a lot of Banks Peninsula of course. So he's been very generous in doing that."
"I think its extraordinarily generous of the guy," says Peter Ramsden of the local runanga. "I think it's unique, ' it emphasises the uniqueness of the guy."
The deal was finalised with a signing on Waitangi Day.
Solomon says the deal is not just important for Maori or Ngai Tahu. "It's always been my view that if we are to be a nation then we have to protect our heritage, all of us."
An area rich in history, is now preserved for all New Zealanders.
