A tohu designed, under guidance from mana whenua, for local boards connected with Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek), is set to be used by Kāinga Ora at the local Freeland Reserve.
This is exciting for the boards and locals as it’ll be used for the first time since it was adopted by Puketāpapa along with the Albert-Eden and Whau local boards.
The tohu symbolises collaborative work in the area over many years to restore and protect Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek), Auckland's longest urban streams. Its use is welcomed by Puketāpapa Local Board as a symbol of their commitment to working with mana whenua collaboratively.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to seeing the tohu being used in our local reserve. We’re committed to working with mana whenua as a board and also work hard to cherish our heritage. This is a symbol, a milestone of the work we’re done in the past and will continue to do in the future,” says Puketāpapa Local Board Member Harry Doig.
The purpose of the tohu is to increase public awareness and engagement with the awa. The tohu is a symbol that was developed to represent the awa and the relationship of mana whenua with the awa.
Kāinga Ora Senior Development Manager Lucy Smith, agrees and says, “Using the tohu symbolises our ongoing commitment to protecting Te Auaunga and the surrounding natural environment in Roskill South. To complement the introduction of new housing in the neighbourhood, Kainga Ora is also working in partnership with Healthy Waters to upgrade the stormwater treatment within Freeland Reserve."
"This upgrade will improve water quality to the area, including Te Auaunga, decrease flooding and allow additional overall improvements to the reserve and its amenities. This includes new features such as footbridges, a viewing platform, furniture, and walkways,” she says.
It was developed collaboratively among mana whenua and Whaotapu who are a collective of Tohunga Toi Ake and work across Tāmaki Makaurau and the motu.
The tohu will be implemented in a way that acknowledges the awa as having its own life force. The tohu plays a role in restoring the mauri, mana and tapu of the awa.
Te Tohu o Te Auaunga is a project supported by all three local boards through which Te Auaunga flows (Puketāpapa, Albert-Eden, Whau).
Mana Whenua have been involved as partners in this project. Thirteen Mana Whenua groups with interests in this area were invited to engage with the project. Mana whenua groups involved to date include: Te Akitai Waiohua, Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Kawerau A Maki, Te Ara Rangatahi o Te Iwi o Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngaati Whanaunga and Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua.
