The SCN Newsletter is out now and we are happy to be talking about the opening of the heritage trail. In the newsletter, you will find a brief history of the area as well as information from the different Iwi about the magnificent Pouwhenua. However, the newsletter is heavily edited, so we will soon be creating an area to highlight these special features, as well as starting a "History" section on this webpage. If you have any historical information about the area, we would love to hear from you. In the meantime, you can see the unedited information below the newsletter.
Extended Information:
References
Before I begin, I would like to reference the article by Janet Davidson (click here). This fantastic article has something for everyone, from the eruption of the volcano, history thereafter, and the archaeological finds from the Iwi that once settled there. This is a must for the bookshelf at home for those intrigued by our history.
Additionally, there is a phenomenal resource of historical Images that people may find interesting at http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/heritageimages/index.htm. You can search for images from within New Zealand, back as far as the 1800s. Here are some of Mt Wellington and what will become Stonefields.
History
Maungarei or Mount Wellington, is a the largest scoria cone by volume and stands at 135m high at its peak. The Volcano erupted approximately 9000 years ago, following the first main eruption of what is now the Panmure Basin (to the south), and Purchas Hill, just to the north (which has been quarried away for the Stonefields Development). This makes Maungarei the second youngest volcano in the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVC), a group of volcanos that are highly unlikely to erupt again. The volcanic complex was first mapped out in the 19th Century by F. Von Hochstetter, who identified the Moari earthworks on the two cones. Maungarei is one of the four largest of the 30 AVCs that became settlement sites for Maori.
Lava flows extended to the west of Maungarei, some of which blocked valleys, lead to thecreation lake and swampland, notably Waitarua reserve. The reserve was an important source of food for the Maori settlements on Maungarei and the fertile volcanic soils to create gardens (partially preserved at Stonefields Reserve) along with the close proximity to the sea, Maungarei became a very desirable Pa site. Last signs of Moari settlement
The history around the mountain is immense, with a number of Iwi, including Waiohua, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Paoa, inhabiting the Maunga at different times. Due to its steep, high topography, Maungarei (meaning "Watchful Mountain") was defended in battle on a number of occassions, with documentation of other local battles excluding Maungarei, possibly because of the difficulty in trying to take it. But in 1821, the occupants were taken or slain by Hongi Hika, and from that point on, the Pa remained uninhabited.
Initial quarrying of the Mt Wellington Lava flow occurred in the early 1900s with Winstone Ltd establishing the 220acre Lunn Avenue Quarry in 1936. Intense quarrying of occurred over the next 60 years, with 18 million m3 of rock being trucked out along a few levels of quarry roads along the cliff face. During the 1960s and 1970s, major archeological excavations were undertaken on Maungerei, identifying a number of key archeological finds, many of which had already been lost in the area from other quarrying.
Due to the increase in importance being placed on the Moari hertitage sites within New Zealand, quarrying was eventually stopped and Landco Limited (now Todd Property) purchased the site in 2001. Development ideas for ranged from a business park, to a sports stadium. But the final masterplan was to develop approximately 2500 medium to high density housing to house 6500 people, a 5.3ha lake and wetland area, neighbourhood centre, primary school, network of Neighbourhood parks, the preservation of Stonefields Reserve, and a pedestrian trail across an old quarry haul road, now known as Stonefields Heritage Trail.
Pouwhenua
Paoa Pukunui,
Paoa of the big stomach – Korero relating to the pou
Paoa Pukunui, Paoa of the big stomach is the name of the whakairo designed and carved by Ngāti Paoa artist, Puhi Thompson. Paoa Pukunui is a pepeha representing the extensive cultivations and resources of the area, the ability to manaaki (care for) manuhiri (visitors) and the humility of Paoa. The pou represents Paoa at the top holding the ko (gardening implement) and Rongomatane, the deity of cultivation, at the bottom. The cultivations and the plentiful resources of the area sustained the thousands of Ngāti Paoa who occupied the entire estuary and ensured a healthy and prosperous people. Paoa, the epynomous ancestor of Ngāti Paoa was humble and stories tell of Paoa not distinguishing himself from his people when they travelled. Those they visited tried to identify Paoa by serving kai that was not normally befitting for a rangatira. Paoa would graciously eat all kai that was served to him, earning the name Paoa Pukunui.
Korero relating to the connection of Ngāti Paoa to the area.
Ngāti Paoa have had a continuous relationship with Tāmaki Makaurau and more specifically, Tauoma, since the arrival of their ancestral waka Tainui and Te Arawa in 1300AD. Both waka, having been close relations in Hawaiki, arrived in Aotearoa almost simultaneously. Paoa is the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Paoa, and his whakapapa connects Ngāti Paoa to the ancestral waka of both Tainui and Te Arawa. Tamatekapua captained the Te Arawa waka and Hoturoa captained the Tainui waka.
The Tainui waka, while familiarising themselves with Aotearoa, sought shelter at North Head. From there they observed birds from the west flying to and fro the east coast. The tangata whenua hosting Tainui, explained that the sea was further west and access to the west was possible from Wai Mokoia, the Tāmaki River. This guided the next exploratory movements of the Tainui waka. The Tainui and Te Arawa ancestors left their markers on the landscape, places where many important events were to occur over the course of Māori occupation of Tāmaki Makaurau. The influence of the landings of the ancestral waka, the occupation, warfare and battles that followed and the period of Ngāti Paoa dominance within the area tie Ngāti Paoa very closely to Tauoma.
Tauoma was traditionally known as the area within the borders of Te Roto (Panmure Lagoon) along the shores to Whakamuhu (headland above St Heliers), and inland to Waiatarua.
Maunga ā Reipae or Maungarei: ‘the mountain of Reipae is named after Reipae, a Tainui ancestress. Reipae was travelling to Te Tai Tokerau on an eagle and landed on the maunga during her journey. Ngāti Paoa acknowledges the names recognised by other iwi for this maunga. Maungarei, was used as a pā, and its flanks, particularly on the eastern side, are covered in food storage pits and terraced house sites.
From Maungarei, you can see the where the maunga Te Tauoma stood. Te Tauoma, commonly known as Purchas Hill was a pā. Te Tauoma was to the north of Maungarei but has since been quarried significantly.
At the turn of the 18th century Ngāti Paoa were steadily increasing in population around Tauoma. Strong garrisons were built along the banks and cliffs along Wai Mokoia from the twin citadels of Mokoia and Mauinaina through to the stronghold at Whakamuhu (Achilles Point).
Waiarohe, Karaka Bay was where Ngāti Paoa tūpuna signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is below the pā Te Pane o Horoiwi (the forehead of Horoiwi). Horoiwi was an ancestor on board the Tainui waka.
Tahuna Torea is the nature reserve adjacent to the sand spit of the oyster catcher in the Tāmaki estuary. The footprints of Ngāti Paoa ancestors remain there. It was a sheltered anchorage and you could gain your first view of Mokoia Pā. Kawau, Shags taking off at Tahuna Torea was a sign of the approaching waka of either visitors or possible enemies.
Te Pupu o Kawau pā, the home of Ngaromania, is slightly further inland. Ngaromania of Te Uri o Pou was an ancestor of today's Ngāti Paoa who would extract taxes from those that passed up and down Wai Mokoia.
Within the landscape were key passage ways such as Wai Mokoia (Wai o Taiki) and Te Tō Waka and Karetu portages. Maungarei stands above Mokoia pā. The pā at Mauinaina and Mokoia were cultural bastions for Ngāti Paoa hapū.
Ngati Te Ata
Waiohua represents a time when the Pa of Tamaki Makaurau were at full muster, swelling for harvest, cramming for defence, or abandoned for fallow replenishment. The existence of several tribal identities before and after this period alludes to the notion of an economic regional union under the leadership of Te Huakaiwaka. Te Huakaiwaka translates as the Consumer of Waka. The key economic drivers at this time were the trade of kai like root crops, supplemented by seafood, fish and birds, land and resources and settlement. The main modes of transport being by waka and by foot giving effect to this trade. The economic objectives in those days are the same objectives sought today albeit in a slightly different context - to provide for the movement of people, goods and services, the connectivity between iwi whanaunga, and to promote and engage in sustainable economic trade for the social well-being of the people.
Ngai Tai Ki Tamiki
Potaka
Unfortunately, the carver, Ruben Kirkwood (from Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki), was unavailable at the time of this publication. However, we will endeavour to find out the full meaning once he returns.
The stunning black Pou , Potaka, represents the Iwi Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki, who lived on Mt Wellington, and called it Maungarei.
Potaka was a supreme chief of Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki thanks to his Lineage and leadership and other pa were named in his honour, by his descendants .
It was hewn out of Totara, a timber revered by Maori for its strength and durability.
Unfortunately, the carver, Ruben Kirkwood (from Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki), was unavailable at the time of this publication. However, we will endeavour to find out the full meaning once he returns.
The stunning black Pou , Potaka, represents the Iwi Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki, who lived on Mt Wellington, and called it Maungarei.
Potaka was a supreme chief of Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki thanks to his Lineage and leadership and other pa were named in his honour, by his descendants .
It was hewn out of Totara, a timber revered by Maori for its strength and durability.