Aroha ki te Ora, Britomart Precinct, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 2020

The concept for Aroha ki te Ora references the Ngāi Tahu creation story. According to Ngāi Tahu tradition, Aoraki, New Zealand’s highest mountain, also known as Mount Cook, is the most sacred of tupuna (ancestors). When Raki (the Sky Father) married Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother), each of them already had children by other unions, and some of the sons of Raki came down from the heavens in a great waka (canoe) to greet their father’s new wife. Aoraki (Cloud in the Sky) was in command, and with him were his brothers, Rakirua (Raki the second), Rakiroa (Long Raki) and Rarakiroa (Long Unbroken Line). They sailed across vast seas without finding land, and when attempting to return to the heavens, the karakia (prayer) that should have lifted their waka back to the heavens failed. The waka fell back into the water and turned over onto its side. As the brothers climbed onto the overturned canoe they turned to stone, and remain there today as the principal mountains in the Southern Alps. Their canoe, Te Waka A Aoraki, is the South Island.

Kei a Te Pō te tīmatanga mai o te waiatatanga mai o te Atua.
Nā Te Pō, ko Te Ao.
Nā  Te Ao, ko Te Aomārama.
Nā  Te Aomārama, ko Te Aotūroa.
Nā  Te Aotūroa, ko Te Koretēwhiwhia.
Nā  Te Koretēwhiwhia, ko Te Koretērawea.
Nā  Te Koretērawea, ko Te Koretētāmaua.
Nā  Te Koretētāmaua, ko Te Koretēmātua.
Nā Te Koretēmātua, ko Te Mākū.
Nā  Te Mākū, ka noho i a Mahoranuiatea,
Ka puta ki waho ko Raki.

Ngāi Tahu values and beliefs explain all things from the time of nothingness – Te Kore, through the vast ages of darkness – Te Pō, to the first ever glimmer of light – Te Ao, to the longstanding light – Te Aotūroa, through to the emergence of moisture – Te Mākū.

A void, a parentless void with the potential for life, encompassed all. In due course Te Mākū emerged and coupled with Mahoranui-a-Tea, from which came Rakinui, who coupled with Pokoharua-Te-Pō. Their first child was Aoraki, who stands as the supreme mountain of Ngāi Tahu.

From the union of Rakinui and Pokoharua-Te-Pō also came the source of the great winds – Tāwhirimātea, Tiu and Rakamaomao. The elder brother of Pokoharua-Te-Pō was Te Moretu. From Te Moretu came Takaroa – the great progenitor of the oceans.

The first wife of Takaroa was the flat earth – Papatūānuku. While Takaroa was occupied with his work far out in the oceans, Papatūānuku went to be with Rakinui. It was from this union of Rakinui and Papatūānuku that into being came Rehua, Tāne and many children including the great voyager, Paikea, the father of Tahupōtiki, the ancestor of Ngāi Tahu.

Upon his return from the oceans, Takaroa discovered the union between his wife and nephew and proceeded to exact revenge on Raki, which led to a great battle that left Rakinui wounded in both thighs and his further descendents crippled.

From the great Takaroa came many more important creations including Te Kāhui Anu. From Te Kāhui Anu came Te Anumātao and later Te Anuwai. It was from the union of Te Anuwai and Takaroa that Te Pounamu first came into being.

This particular whakapapa states that pounamu is a direct descendant of the great Ngāi Tahu deity, Takaroa. This is important, because Takaroa, being an uncle of Rakinui and the first husband of Papatūānuku, has a senior bloodline, in turn passing this to pounamu. It is this whakapapa that gives pounamu a higher bloodline than the uri (descendants) of Rakinui and Papatūānuku, including people.

Whakapapa explains the very origins of everything, past and present, within the Māori world. It is the foundation upon which all things are built, the web that connects all things together, the anchor which holds all things in place and the vehicle by which all things link back to the beginning of time. Whakapapa accounts for the way in which the earth, sky, oceans, rivers, elements, minerals, plants, animals and all people have been created. It is through whakapapa that all things are intricately linked, as well as having their individual place in the world. Ultimately, it is whakapapa that connects people to each other, to their ancestors, to the land and natural resources. For Ngāi Tahu, it is whakapapa that elucidates their descent from the gods of creation.

- Te Maire Tau

Photos: Russ Flatt