We were watching from a distance. A lone bushman was bent over his chainsaw. He tugged on the starter cord. The saw coughed. Another pull and it started, a throaty growl announcing that it was ready for business. Oddly, the noise seemed small. I felt the same. When you stand alongside the impenetrable wall of a pine forestry block, small is the right feeling.

A group consisting of the trustees of the forestry block, infrastructure organisations and the contractors had gathered for a dawn tree felling karakia ceremony. The occasion was to mark the felling of the block planted 26 years ago. It was an acknowledgement and testimony to the resilience of the trustees virtually all of whom had passed away. They had stuck to the plan and planted the block for the benefit of mokopuna (future generations / grandchildren). Today the dream got real.

Acknowledgement through whakamihi

Forestry is not just a commodity whose value is measured in dollars. It is Tāne Mahuta. The forest is the embodiment of his presence. Each tree, bird, insect, scrubby bush or rock is Tāne.

It is common courtesy to acknowledge the gift given, of himself, tree by tree for the benefit of others. This is social conscience in its fullest expression providing for whānau and mokopuna. It is a koha aroha. We show appreciation before the mahi begins.

Laying the tikanga

Tikanga (processes and procedures). Explain to everyone before the ceremony begins what the tikanga is - what will be said, what order, where people stand, walk, stop and why, so that people are clear on what is happening, know what to do and feel included.

Waerea to clear the pathway

A protection and clearing karakia that is uttered by the tohunga (skilled practitioner) while approaching the forestry block.

In the ceremony two were chosen. The first one had a connection to Prince Harry and his recent visit to Aotearoa. It was recited by Pei Te Hurinui Jones when Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth came in 1953. On the day heavy rain was falling. Pei recited the karakia, the rain cleared and the welcome went ahead. The forestry block is just out of Rotorua where Te Arawa would be welcoming Prince Harry and his wahine the following week.

The second was a recitation of a haka peruperu (a leaping / jumping haka) that the trustees all whakapapa to and is delivered when going onto marae.

The waerea were more than clearing the way, they were a link that connected Pākehā with Māori and descendants with their tūpuna.

Respecting the mana

A forestry block is not just an inanimate stand of soon to be logs there to be bowled over. It is mana Tāne. Accord Tāne the respect of full whaikōrero protocols. A rangatira, an atua tūpuna, Tāne is the heketanga a rangi (whakapapa of descent from the heavens), the connection between the spiritual and physical realms. Address and greet Tāne on his marae (any space in front of the forestry block) and speak to his whare (the block itself). Uphold the mana of his domain.

Tuanga rakau - the felling of the tree

In ancient times Rātā felled a tree to build a waka only to find it resurrected the next day. During the night the birds of the forest had gathered up all of the wood chips and put the tree back together.

Te Arawa whakapapa to Rātā. He is acknowledged as building the canoe Ngā Pūrakau o Te Arawa. Tainui acknowledge Rakataura as the builder of the Tainui waka. The same happened for him as well. A tree was felled then raised again by the birds of the forest.

In the ceremony when the first tree is felled instruct the operator to cut the crown of the tree off too.

Kotia te pū waiho i konei - cut off the butt and leave it here

Kotia te kauru waiho i konā - cut off the crown and leave it there

Go to these places and recite the Rātā tree felling karakia. One for each section. Also, smear cooked kumara at the cuts (Rakataura had been directed to fix his raru (problem) by laying down grated kumara).

The fallen tree is a link connecting members of the group to the past while tūpuna worldviews are captured in every word of the karakia.

Karakia whakamutunga

It is important to close the ceremony with the same appreciation and mana in which the tree felling ceremony began. Mihi (thank) those who enabled the tree felling to happen. Acknowledge the mana that has been shared by all, then close with karakia.

Tree felling today

There are two messages here for the forestry industry. One is to ensure that policies and procedures are in place and that staff follow them implicitly. The birds taught when resurrecting the tree, that we are accountable for our actions. It is our responsibility to make sure we do things right. The second is that indigenous cultural practices add a completely new and different perspective about the importance of the forest not only from a forestry and economical point of view but also a cultural one.