After three years of dedicated effort, we were thrilled to finally launch the Tutū Pai Te Puehu o Whangapē Interactive Indigenous Map on Saturday, 23rd Nov 2023.

Ngā Hapū o Ngati Haua me Te Tāwhiu

“Ko ngā maunga, ko ngā awa, ko ngā tāngata, he kōpū puta tahi”

The mountains, the rivers, the people, are all interconnected as one

This valuable bilingual teaching and learning resource with maps, pūrākau, history, waiata, amazing imagery and much more continues to strengthen our connection, sense of belonging, along with whānau/hapū affirmations of cultural pride that exceed all expectations of success for this app. It was one of the top 50 downloaded apps on its first day, and has been nominated for a Te Reo Māori app award. Its development is embedded as an exemplar of excellence for other Marae / hapū who value data sovereignty and protection of intellectual property rights.

Special thanks to all our contributors who helped share kōrero tuku iho on our sites of significance. Special acknowledgment to Maraea Herbert Pickering and Harata Herbert, who have played a crucial role, ensuring Pawarenga shared their own stories. Recognising that we could not share the stories of Whangapē without sharing Pawarenga; they are a part of us, and we are a part of them.

TUTŪ PAI TE PUEHU O WHANGAPĒ WANANGA – TE KOTAHITANGA MARAE, WHANGAPĒ, 20TH-22ND TĪHEMA 2023

This wānanga is the first of a planned series to follow the app launch.

The focus of the wānanga was on:

• Connecting through Pūrākau – Stories of Home:Facilitating a profound connection with culturally significant landscapes within the rohe, strengthening bonds between whānau, hapū, and iwi through the sharing of pūrākau, the stories of home.
• Connection and Reconnection: Intentionally reconnects individuals and families to culturally significant places, fostering a sense of belonging and shared heritage.
• Generational Knowledge Transfer: Actively transfering ancestral knowledge to younger generations, emphasising the transmission of place names and associated stories to safeguard cultural wealth.
• Cultural Retention: Utilising the interactive indigenous map app as a bilingual teaching and learning resource, serving as a contemporary educational tool and aiding cultural retention.
• Identity and Belonging: Understanding place names through rich narratives, historical context, and waiata contributes to a deeper understanding of personal and collective identity, fostering connection, belonging, and collectiveness within the community.

Highlights of the Wānanga included whakawhanaungatanga, introduction to Kaupapa, Waiata Ngā Tai o Whangapē. Day two included haerenga to Kura, Taiekaeka, Base of Whakakoro, visits to Ahiriri Pā, Mātanginui, and more.

Activities encompassed discussions, digital books, virtual reality experiences, Kaumātua/Kuia panels, pūmahara, and tuku taonga tīhate and kauri porotiti to honour the Warawara kōrero.

Much love and gratitude to Selena Bercic and whānau from Hokianga for putting together our new waiata composition of our pepehā that was taught at our wānanga. We were also blessed with the maanaki of our amazing cooks who sustained us throughout the wānanga!