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Overview
This badge was made in 1995 when members of Whanganui iwi, organised by Te Rūnanga o Pākaitore, occupied Moutoa Gardens, the site of the former Pākaitore Pā.
The 79-day occupation highlighted Whanganui iwi claims to the river and to challenge council ownership of the Moutoa Gardens, which the rūnanga stated was the site of the historic Pākaitore Pā and not part of the original purchase of the city. Protesters and supporters wore this large bright pink badge. ‘Pākaitore He Papakāinga’ refers to Pākaitore as being the original homeland.
The occupation ended peacefully. Since then, the ‘h’ has been restored to the name Whanganui, and Pākaitore was turned into an historic reserve in 2001.
In 2014, the Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui River) Deed of Settlement was signed in 2014 recognising Whanganui River as a living whole (Te Awa Tupua), and the development of the relationship between Whanganui iwi and the river through cultural and financial redress.