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Two popular Hibiscus Coast regional parks have received Māori names and narratives along with three other Auckland regional parks.
The changes include Te Hāruhi/Shakespear Regional Park and Maungatauhoro/Wenderholm Regional Park, as well as Oruamo/Long Bay Regional Park, Te Pane-o-Mataaho/Ambury Regional Park and Te Ōmana/Ōmana Regional Park.
The names were gifted by manu whenua through the Te Kete Rukuruku programme, which seeks to restore traditional place names and share the stories behind them.
Auckland Council’s Community Committee formally adopted the names so they can sit alongside existing English names helping to recognise and preserve both Māori and European histories for future generations.
Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust chief executive Nicola MacDonald says the iwi has supported the Te Kete Rukuruku programme since its early stages.
“This programme supports iwi across Tāmaki Makaurau by unlocking learning and awareness opportunities through the gifting of traditional names and sharing of stories for everyone to enjoy.
“Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa are within the rohe of Ngāti Manuhiri, which has occupied the area since the 17th Century.”
MacDonald says the names gifted to the two parks reflect the area’s history and cultural identity.
“The names gifted to Shakespear and Wenderholm regional parks reflect our history and cultural narrative. Te Haruhi/Shakespear describes the many sheltered bays off the coast of Whangaparāoa, the superhighway of migratory species and Maungatauhoro/Wenderholm identifies the natural landscape on the southern boundary of the park which was once heavily forested with native trees supporting biodiversity.
Te Kawerau ā Maki Tiaki Trust Pou Tangata Robin Taua-Gordon, who helped prepare the cultural narratives for the parks, says the names have always been part of the iwi’s history.
“As Te Kawerau ā Maki, we honour the deep connection to whenua and acknowledge our history. These names have always existed for us, but the Te Kete Rukuruku kaupapa has enabled us to share some of the mātauranga tuku iho (ancestral knowledge) with all who come here.”
Council says the programme aims to recognise both Māori and European histories while helping Aucklanders better understand the stories connected to the region’s parks and places. The five regional parks are the first to receive names through the initiative.
