The narrative of Te Ara Tupua

Following the procreation of the mountainous ranges of the central plateau, the mountain clan were summoned to the head of the fish of Māui (Wellington) where they gathered on the summit of Pukeatua (summit of gods, Wainuiomata Hill).

Upon reaching Pukeatua, they were gifted the ritual incantations of invocations to summon from the depths of the freshwater lake, two tupua . Reciting the ancient incantations of invocations, they instructed the two tupua, Ngake and Whātaitai, to prise open the great mouth of the fish of Māui (the area we know today as Wellington harbour).

Each responsible for their own freedom from their land locked imprisonment of the freshwater lake, both tupua opted to take different pathways to freedom. One tupua, Ngake, commenced his journey on the eastern side of the lake, winding himself up and leaving behind a destructive pathway. He hurled himself towards the distant barriers and bashed through, escaping the freshwater lake to freedom, unto the great maiden ocean, Hine-moana. It was at this point the freshwater lake met the saltwater for the very first time. In his devastation he left behind geographical icons evident to this day.

The second tupua, Whātaitai, opted to take the western pathway, commencing from the throat of the fish of Māui (Korokoro o te lka, later to be named Te Korokoro a Mana), arriving at Ngā Ūranga (landing place) where he began to wind himself into a coil. Before he could ready himself for his escape, his companion had already broken through leaving a pathway of destruction and causing the water level to recede. In the ever-shallowing waters, Whātaitai, still intent on escape, was unable to generate enough speed and momentum and quickly became stuck on a sandbar. Unable to move any further he remained there for some time as the water washed over his back.

Aeons passed by where a great land mass lifted him out of the water exposing his body to the open-air and bringing his life to a sudden end. In passing, his spirit took the formation of a spiritual bird – Te Keo – who to this day continues to pursue the pathway of enlightenment.

In their task to prise open the mouth of the great fish of Māui, the tupua created two pathways.

One created the eastern inner harbour pathway and in doing so left us with the geographical iconic formations of:

• Te Awa Kairangi
• Matiu
• Mākaro
• Ngā Mokopuna
• Te Au a Tane, and many more.

The second, created the western inner harbour pathway leaving behind the icons of the western harbour including:

• Horokiwi
• Waihinahina
• Parikarangaranga
• Paroro-rangi
• Tahataharoa
• Ngā Ūranga.

Each pathway chosen by these tupua allows for our visitors to come to Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

The pathway created by Ngake (Tupua Horonuku) allowed for the great Pacific navigator Kupe and larger vessels to frequent these shores. Whilst Ngake was able to break through, Whātaitai (Tupua Hororangi) remains and welcomes the many people, vessels, and aircraft which arrive daily from both national and international destinations to visit our harbour.

The name Te Ara Tupua, The Ancient Pathway, is an acknowledgement to the guardians of our harbour, Ngake and Whātaitai. They are both tupua in their own right, and I have been intentional in my use of the word ‘tupua’ over ‘taniwha’. Tupua is a term for a phenomenon, something that is unexplainable, and a term that aligns itself with the total story of Te Kāhui Maunga, namely: Te Awa Tupua – Te Kāhui Tupua – Te Ara Tupua.”

— Kura Moeahu, August 2019 (Te Kāhui Maunga, Te Āti Awa, Ngā Ruahine-rangi, Ngāti Mutunga Taranaki Tūturu, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa)

The pathways of Te Ara Tupua

Two pathways have been constructed. The first acknowledges the tupua Ngake. His pathway, Te Ara o Tupua Horonuku, runs from Ngaumatau (Point Howard) to Mā Koromiko (Eastbourne). The second acknowledges the tupua Whātaitai. His pathway, Te Ara o Tupua Hororangi, runs from Pito One to Ngā Ūranga.

Te Ara Tupua was the name given to the construction alliance and pathway during construction. The pathways were named Te Ara o Tupua Hororangi and Te Ara o Tupua Horonuku at the ara tapuae (blessing ceremony). This ensured their permanent names were remembered.

Te Ara o Tupua Hororangi — The pathway of Whātaitai

Whātaitai’s travels began at Pito One and concluded at Hataitai near Rongotai and close to Wellington International Airport. Whātaitai was beached for many years. He eventually passed away and his spirit was acknowledged by a large flock of birds that flew to the summit of Matairangi . At Wellington Airport Whātaitai is acknowledged as a manumuramura, or Phoenix, called Te Keo.

Te Ara o Tupua Horonuku — The pathway of Ngake

From the mouth of Te Awa Kairangi to the entrance of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the Eastern Bays area encapsulates many sites of significance to Māori and Taranaki Whānui ki te Ūpoko o te Ika. They have maintained ahi kaa in this area since the 1830s.

The name Tupua Horonuku evokes the narrative of the tupua called Ngake, one of the two creators of Te Whanganui-a-Tara in traditional Māori narrative.

At the conclusion of the Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi infrastructure programme, a new pathway will be created to join Te Ara o Tupua Horonuku and Te Ara o Tupua Hororangi, and a new name gifted.

Te Awa Kairangi was created by Ngake when he curled and wound his tail, then his tail struck out as he advanced towards the then headlands of the freshwater lake then known as Waimanga (Freshwater Lake). When his tail struck out, he created crevices and scars that we see today as the ravines and gullies on the present hill sides in the Hutt Valley.

Te Ara Tupua: Te Awa Kairangi

From the scarifice of her body, Papatūānuku was sore and needed relief. Relief was sent from Ranginui above, sending three female deities called Hine Waitota, Hine Korako and Hine Wairere. They represent mist, condensation, lunar droplets and free flowing water. Condensation and mist settled upon the whenua , making its way into tributaries, into streams and eventually creating free flowing rivers that we know today as the Te Awa Kairangi.

Acknowledgements: The names of Te Ara Tupua have been gifted by Kura Moeahu QSO of (Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika) with the above narrative shared by the Mana Whenua Steering Group.