New Māori name in Glen Eden park links astrology and whenua

Publish Date : 11 Dec 2024
Te Kakau bilingual sign

A Māori name has been generously gifted to the Waitākere Ranges, marked with a celebration with a local school and community to share the significance of the name.  

Te Kakau, formerly known as Sunvue Park, was named by local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki, tangata whenua of Hikurangi (West Auckland) as the sole name for the park.  

Auckland Council is committed for te reo Māori to be seen, heard, spoken and learnt in our public places, reflected in the Māori naming and storytelling programme, Te Kete Rukuruku.

Bilingual signage has been installed in the park, including one that outlines the meaning of the name and its local significance.  

Waitākere Ranges Local Board Chair Greg Presland is delighted with the name. 

“We are deeply honoured to receive the name for Te Kakau from Te Kawerau ā Maki. We enjoy a collaborative and productive working relationship with mana whenua and take pride in working together on projects such as this.  

“Te reo Māori is a beautiful language that is integral and unique to our whenua. As a board, we have voted to adopt sole te reo Māori names for many of our local parks.  

“Te Kete Rukuruku is to me an important process where we increase the familiarity of te reo in our communities, while at the same time provide a rich narrative of the history of local places. 

“I’m very pleased that the board has played a part in returning Māori names to the whenua where they belong and grateful to Te Kawerau ā Maki for their gift.”  

The story of Te Kakau 

In Te Ao Māori, the connection to people and place is of profound significance, deeply rooted in cultural identity.  

Te Kawerau ā Maki aimed to strengthen this bond through the park's meaningful naming, ensuring reflection of their heritage and values. 

Te Kakau has many layers of meaning. In Te Ao Māori, it specifically refers to the star Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation. The Latin translation of Regulus is 'prince' or 'little king', enriching the importance of the name. 

Leaders in Māori astronomy were often known as tohunga tātai arorangi (experts in astronomy). While many Māori had general knowledge of tātai arorangi, only a select few were taught in depth and entrusted with this knowledge. 

This celestial reference weaves a tapestry of astronomical themes throughout the area. It connects other zodiac-themed street names like Pisces Road, Aquarius Avenue, Virgo Place and Leo Street. 

Additionally, Te Kakau signifies the stalk of a plant. In the context of harakeke (flax), it serves as the essential stalk that supports the flowers and plays a crucial role in pollination and the plant’s life cycle.   

This dual significance means that whether you are a young learner navigating new experiences or an experienced individual offering support and guidance, you embody the essence of ‘Te Kakau’ in your life journey. 

The event included waiata from local Prospect School students.

The event included waiata from local Prospect School students.

About the Te Kete Rukuruku programme 

In 2017 Auckland Council launched the Te Kete Rukuruku (TKR) project, a culture and identity programme to collect and share the stories unique to Māori in Auckland. The programme is led by iwi, in partnership with the council and its local boards. 

One component of this is a naming project which restores te reo Māori to the land through naming of parks and places. In some cases, these names existed prior to the current names. In other cases they may be more contemporary names that reflect an historical activity of the area prior to European settlement or sometimes have an environmental connection. 

Short narratives explaining the significance of the names are also provided by local iwi that explain the meaning and show the connection to the place being named. 

This is one way for local communities to learn about their Māori history, language and culture. It provides a way of protecting and returning the names and the rich mana whenua stories of Auckland – some of which have been lost over many years. 

Stay up to date

Sign up for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board E-news to get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month, or follow them on Facebook.

Back to News