A Wairarapa hapū is racing against time to raise enough money to buy back land their ancestors were born on - but the tender closes today.
Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia wants to buy 182 hectares of Wairarapa land alongside the Waiohine river to recreate a hub for its people.
Joel Ngātuere told The Project on Monday they've been waiting "for generations" to get some of their whenua back.
"The treaty settlement is a very long process and if it's going to happen we just have to take the bull by the horns and get it ourselves," he said.
"With our DNA embedded throughout the whenua there, it's very important to us."
While he was hesitant to turn to Givealittle, the results from an appeal on the site have astounded him.
"I really thought it would be enough to buy some whiteboard markers and post-it notes to mind map our goals."
But the Givealittle has raised $146,403 in just five days.
"I'm so grateful for the support of those people who have decided to join us on this journey," said Ngātuere.
"I'm looking forward to the day when we can stand together and share some kai on our whenua."
The tender for the land closes on Tuesday afternoon - and with the price between $1.2 and $1.5 million, Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia are still a while from the goal.
But if they cannot buy the land, the funds won't go to waste. A statement on the Givealittle page clarifies if the sale falls through, all donations will be put into a trust for Ngāti Kahukuraawhitia.
This will be used for purchasing another parcel of land at a later date.
