Tuku whenua: A day Aucklanders can come to know and share

The useful part

As we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, it feels right to remember an important moment for Ngāti Whātua and Auckland. Both ask us to listen, learn and reconnect with the people, places and stories of Tāmaki Makaurau. I grew up in Auckland knowing I was Ngāti Whātua, but not all the kōrero about the whenua beneath my feet.

How it works

• My father, Hapi Pihema, was one of many kaumātua and cultural leaders who worked to strengthen our people and rebuild our cultural estate.
• I knew the streets, beaches and landmarks, but few of their original names or histories.
• As I grew older, I learned more about Apihai Te Kawau and the tūpuna beside him.
• In 1840, Te Kawau sent people north to invite governor William Hobson to Tāmaki Makaurau.
• He saw that a new township could bring peace, trade, opportunity, and hoped Māori and Pākehā could build a relationship together.

What to take from it

On 18 September 1840, Te Kawau and his people made 3,000 acres available to establish Auckland. It was an act of mana, leadership and manaakitanga, offered in the hope that people would care for one another and build a future together. By the 1950s, our people at Ōkahu Bay were virtually landless, and homes were pulled down before a royal visit.

Details worth keeping

I knew the city I could see, but not the story underneath it. Sometimes the stories closest to us take the longest to hear. This is often called a gift, but tuku whenua means much more.