Ngāti Whātua calls to move Auckland holiday to reflect true founding story

Friday, 16 September 2022

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust chairperson Marama Royal wants Auckland to commemorate its true founding day, September 18.

Central Auckland tangata whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is calling for the city to recognise the true founding story of Tāmaki Makaurau that has been seemingly forgotten over the last 200 years.

The iwi wants Auckland Anniversary Day public holiday to be shifted to September 18 to mark the partnership entered into between Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson and chief Apihai Te Kawau.

The current anniversary in January marks the day Hobson dropped anchor in Kororareka-Russell, holding little significance for the city, trust chair Marama Royal said.

“Most people have no idea of the real founding of Auckland, instead linking it back to land speculators like Logan Campbell,” Royal said.

The Ōrākei marae is often used for commemorations. Pictured here, a remembering of the dawn raids.

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Pictured, Joe Pihema with his son Tuperiri. Pihema hopes the next generation will remember Auckland’s true heritage.

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“The origins actually come from an enduring partnership between Ngāti Whātua and the Crown, underpinned by obligations and responsibilities to each other,” Royal said.

According to cultural advisor Joe Pihema, the historical backdrop to the founding of the city was one of bloodshed and upheaval.

He said the introduction of guns to New Zealand in the hands of rivals Ngā Puhi had destabilised the entire North Island.

Te Kawau and his people and been forced to flee their homeland, taking refuge in Waitākere and Mahurangi, only returning a decade later once the balance of power had been restored.

In 1840 Apihai Te Kawau was among the chiefs that signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi on the banks of the Manukau Harbour. That same year he sought to cement his people’s future, taking a calculated risk.

A major hui was called between all the chiefs of Ngāti Whātua.

The original tuku whenua land block lent to the Crown.

The view from Bastion Point shows a bustling metropolis upon the tuku whenua land provided to the Crown.

'There, a tohunga fell into a trance and uttered a prophecy which spoke of an authoritative wind from the north, a nautilus shell washing on the shores and an ornately carved pou,” Pihema said.

The foretold authority was the Crown, then based in the Bay of Islands, which would come ashore on ships. Te Kawau sent an envoy to Governor Hobson inviting him to create a settlement on the Waitematā.

It was hoped that Pākehā would bring trading opportunities and an alliance which would ward off rival iwi.

Ngāti Whātua fought hard to have its land returned at Bastion Point.

There was much discussion on the siting of the new settlement. Surveyor-General Felton Matthew initially inspected Hobsonville, which was Governor Hobson’s first choice, and then the Panmure Basin.

Ultimately the Crown was granted a 3000-acre triangle-shaped land block, spanning from Parnell to Mt Eden and over to Cox’s Creek.

At 12.30pm on September 18, 1840, a flag ascended at Point Britomart and the firing of cannons signalled the founding of a new settlement.

That day there was no way that Te Kawau could have predicted the sprawling metropolis that would emerge from Tāmaki Makaurau, Pihema said.

But, Pihema said the landed was not “gifted”, it was lent under the principles of “tuku whenua”, for the purpose of “an enduring relationship to be mutually beneficial for both parties”.

“Te Kawau was a leader willing to undertake an innovative strategy for the survival of his people. In that sense, it worked. Ngāti Whātua is still here, but that security came at a cost.”

“I don’t think he was fully cognisant of the capitalist ideology that was about to sweep through the whenua. He couldn’t have foretold that within 50 years, the Pākehā population would outgrow Maori and that we would be a minority in our own home.”

By 1900 there had been a complete cultural change with more than 100,000 non-Maori living in Auckland, and Ngāti Whātua would see its asset base eroded.

Pihema said this founding story seemed to have been forgotten, and it was time that Aucklanders remembered so that they could strengthen their identity and connection with the city.

“The tuku whenua offers an opportunity to remember that relationship and the principles of manaakitanga and to work together for the benefit of the people of Auckland.”

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei commemorated this year with ceremonies at Mt Eden, Parnell Cox’s Creek and Point Britomart.

Pihema encouraged Aucklanders to reflect by visiting the grave of Hobson on the corner of Karangahape Road and Symonds Street and to take a walk through the original block from Parnell to Cox’s Bay.

Ngāti Whātua has challenged Auckland Council to change Auckland Anniversary Day to September 18.

Mayor Phil Goff acknowledged the role Te Kawau had, but said it would be up to Auckland’s next mayor to usher change.

The council’s manager of governance services Rose Leonard said “given that Anniversary Day is observed by other upper North Island regions, we would also expect to consult with other councils, and seek advice on whether legislative change is required.”

Leonard said the council had not received any formal request from Ngāti Whātua.

Joe Pihema said the iwi was trying to have a “gentle conversation”. He acknowledged that having the public holiday in summer was nice, but said there was also an argument for spreading holidays out through the year.

'It's mainly the yachties that want to get out on the water. But for most people it's just about kicking back with a cold drink, and they thank the Government for the day off.

“What if we could add an authentic conversation about how this partnership can move forward for the benefit of all Aucklanders?”