The ancestral Māori name of Te Oka has been reinstated at Point Erin Park in Herne Bay, creating the dual name of Te Oka / Point Erin Park.
The renaming was requested by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to restore a layer of our cultural history and has been adopted by Waitematā Local Board.
Seven other iwi who have shown an interest in local park renaming in the area supported the decision.
“Although it has always been there, to have Te Oka publicly and officially returned is a great milestone,” said a representative from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
“It restores a significant layer of our history and culture not only for us, but for everyone. We hope to continue this journey with council ensuring the original names for our ancestral homes are visible, acknowledged and used in their rightful places on the whenua (land).”
Te Oka can be translated as ‘the sharp cliff’ or ‘sharp headland’. In pre-European times it was the name of the pā that was located here. The pā would have occupied the northern tip of the headland near the cliff edge, with associated living sites extending around the area. It was a base for summer fishing in the upper Waitematā harbour.
Auckland Council is committed to te reo Māori being seen, heard, spoken and learnt in our public places. This is facilitated by the Māori naming and storytelling programme, Te Kete Rukuruku.
The connection of Māori to their whenua is incredibly important. Papatūānuku, the earth mother, is a living entity from where all living things are created and to where they return. In te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) your place in the world is traditionally expressed through your relationships with the whenua, maunga (mountains), awa (water) and sites of significance. Names and places hold stories and knowledge that is passed down through generations.
With the arrival of Europeans and subsequent colonial settlement many original names have been replaced, with some being lost completely or their meaning now vague or completely unknown. One of the benefits of the Te Kete Rukuruku programme for tangata whenua is the restoration and preservation of these ancestral names and their associated stories.
Storytelling signage that will share the cultural history of the site is soon to be installed.
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