Ōkaurirahi
Ko te kōrero kei muri i te ingoa
I ngā wā o mua i te Pākehā, e mōhiotia ana te wāhi nei, te wao me ōna kauri nunui. Ka kitea tēnei āhuatanga i te ingoa o Ōkaurirahi, i “te wāhi i rahi ai te kauri”. Ko te wāhi pātata e kīia nei ko Kaurilands tētahi atu hononga o mua ki ēnei rākau rangatira.
E whakahokia ana te ingoa o Ōkaurirahi ki te whenua me ngā tāngata o Tāmaki Makaurau e Te Kawerau ā Maki, arā, ki te mana whenua o Hikurangi. Kua neke atu i te 400 tau te roa e noho ana a Te Kawerau ā Maki ki te rohe nei.
He momo rākau whakahirahira te kauri e kīia nei e Te Kawerau ā Maki he taonga. Ko te kauri he tupuna ora tonu ki a rātou, he rangatira i te wao, he hononga ki te ao wairua me ngā atua. Ka kitea tēnei āhuatanga i te whakataukī o tēnei rohe e mea nei, "Kua hinga te kauri o te wao nui a Tiriwa", e rite tonu nei te kōrerohia ka riro ana he tangata mana nui o te takiwā nei ki te pō.
He rite tonu te tapaina o te kauri ki ētahi ingoa whakahirahira e whakaatu nei i te rangatira o taua rākau i te wao.
He wā ka kīia te rākau nei he whakaruruhau, arā, e whakaatuhia ana te huhua o ōna momo me ngā hauropi e tautokona ana, e whakamarumarutia ana, e whāngaia ana e te kauri.
Ehara i te mea ka whakamahia noa ihotia te kauri hei hanga i ngā waka, i ngā whare me ngā pou, engari he hua whakahirahira hoki i te kāpia. Ka tahungia hei ārai i te ngārara, hei whakakā i te ahi, hei pia ngaungau hoki.
He mea whakawhenumi te kauri kua tahungia ki te hinu, ki te ngako rānei, ka whakamahia ai hei tā i te moko.
Nā te mira, nā te tahu, nā ngā mahi hanga, nā te tauhokohoko hoki ki tāwāhi i ruarua haere ai ēnei taonga mīharo. I ngā wā o muri mai, nā ngā riha o tāwāhi me ngā mate e kino kē atu nei te matemate haere o te kauri. E tū tonu nei a Te Kawerau ā Maki hei kaitiaki i te wao mō ngā whakatupuranga e haere ake nei.
“Tiakina te wao nui a Tiriwa hei oranga mōu.”
He mea homai te kōrero nā Te Kawerau a Maki.
Ōkaurirahi
The story behind the name
In pre-European times this area was distinguished by its mature kauri forest. This is acknowledged in the name Ōkaurirahi, “the place of huge kauri”. The nearby area, known as Kaurilands, is also a historical connector to these majestic trees.
The name Ōkaurirahi is being returned to the whenua and to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) by Te Kawerau ā Maki, mana whenua of Hikurangi (West Auckland). Te Kawerau ā Maki has occupied this area for over 400 years.
Kauri is a significant tree species regarded by Te Kawerau ā Maki as a taonga (treasure). They see the kauri as a living ancestor, chief of the forest, and connector to the spiritual realm and atua (gods). This is reflected in the local version of the whakataukī that goes, "Kua hinga te kauri o te wao nui a Tiriwa" (The kauri of the great forest of Tiriwa has fallen), often quoted when a person of great mana from this area passes away.
Kauri are often given significant names in recognition of their chiefly status within the forest.
They are sometimes referred to as te whakaruruhau (the protector), referring to the vast number of species and ecology that the kauri supports, shelters and provides for.
Not only was kauri timber used to make waka, build whare and for carving pou, the kāpia (gum) had important uses as well. It was burned as a natural insecticide, used to start fires and even chewed like chewing gum.
The soot from the burnt gum was mixed with oil or fat and then used in tā moko (traditional Māori tattooing).
Logging, burning, construction and international trade contributed to the decline of these magnificent taonga. In more recent times, introduced animal pests and disease have continued to add to the demise of the kauri. Te Kawerau ā Maki, as kaitiaki, continues to protect the forest for future generations.
"Treasure the vast domain of Tiriwa and in turn you shall benefit.”
Narrative provided by Te Kawerau ā Maki.
