South Auckland community celebrates 21 new te reo Māori names for important places

“The whakarewatanga ceremony was a powerful and moving event led by Mana Whenua.

“This initiative not only celebrates our Māori community, but also enriches the cultural fabric of our entire region, inviting everyone to connect with and appreciate our shared history.”

In March 2019, the board proposed that Mana Whenua give dual names to 123 parks. In February 2021, 62 of these titles were accepted, and in June 2023, 21 more were accepted.

Another 27 parks and three libraries are currently working to name Mana Whenua. This is the third phase of the Te Kete Rukuruku project, which aims to recognize and revitalize Māori place names throughout Auckland.

Bakulich says a key theme in the local council’s plan is tattoo wahi, or “our places.”

“The key to this is to allow mana Whenua to lead the way and actively promote Māori names for parks, facilities, roads and other public spaces.”

All sites are designed to highlight dual names, where a Maori name is added to an existing name and nothing is taken away.

Te Akitai Waiohua, Ngati Tamaoho and Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua are the three iwi that give these places their names.

About the Te Kete Rukuruku program

The Te Kete Rukuruku program was launched in 2017 by Auckland Council.

It focuses on culture and identity by collecting and sharing the unique stories of Māori in Auckland. The initiative is led by iwi in partnership with the council and its local councils.

One of the key components of the program is the naming project, which aims to restore iwi and hapū names.

In some cases, these names pre-existed the current ones.

Brief stories explaining the meaning of these names are provided by mana whenua, illustrating their meaning and connection to the named places.

This initiative aims to protect and reclaim the names and rich histories of Auckland, many of which have been lost over the years.

Stories behind the names

Here are some of the stories behind these names.

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