September 17

The Torch-Bearer Award was presented to Runanganui Ngati Hikairo ki Tongariro and was accepted by Kevin on behalf of his people.

Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo ki Tongariro have been amazing in their support for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoors Pursuit Centre, and especially since the tragic accident of April 15 2008, when 6 visiting students and a teacher died after being swept downstream in a local river.

Otukou, Papakai, and Hikairo are 3 local marae whose associate families identify themselves as Ngati Hikairo, which in turn are constituents of the tribal entity Ngati Tuwharetoa. This hapu group (Ngati Hikairo) have associated themselves to the mountains of the Central Plateau through extended occupancy and guardianship, and we acknowledge them as Tangata Whenua of the mountains, lakes, rivers and bush in and through which OPC students and staff live, adventure and explore.