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Waihora Whata Rau
Description
NameWaihora Whata Rau
Alternative NameThe hundred platforms of WaihoraDescriptionA rich source of mahinga kai, Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere is home to a remarkable number of bird and fish species, diverse collection of plants and rare species of insects and reptiles. Te Waihora is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important wetland habitats.
Mahinga kai refers to the traditional practices associated with food and natural resource, and the places where those resources are obtained. As with all civilizations, a key driver for migration is the quest for land and resource. Early tribal narratives confirm this was the case for the people of Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu, the first inhabitants of this region.
Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, the local hapū or sub tribe, are the descendants of Te Ruahikihiki. Te Ruahikihiki was the ancestor who claimed this region, stating in a tribal gathering in the 1700s ‘Ko taku kāika, ko Orariki’ – my home will be at Orariki. At the time, he and the other chiefs were being informed of the resources available in the Canterbury region. Te Ruahikihiki and his descendants eventually settled at Taumutu because of its proximity to Te Waihora and the abundant resources there.
For 40 generations, Te Waihora has sustained the people of Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and Selwyn District. In 2000, in a bid to reverse the effects of overfishing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a fisheries quota management system was introduced. The fishery was restricted to shortfin eels and three species of flat fish.
Waihora Whata Rau speaks to the numerous raised storage platforms which used to adorn the landscape. These platforms were not only a visual marker indicating a village, they also spoke to the bounty of the landscape, of the land and water. The Ellesmere and Leeston landscape was bountiful. Today, whata with drying eels and fish can still be seen. Although now, the whata are no longer flat platforms but rather ‘A’ frame structures.
Tuna or eels are an important food source for the local hapū Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and more widely for the iwi Ngāi Tahu. In local tradition, the origin of the eels in Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere can be traced back to an atua or deity called Tuna o Runga i te Rangi. The following narrative is an adaption of an account recorded in a Ngāi Tahu manuscript from the early 1880’s.
Creation of Tuna
Tuna o Runga i te Rangi (Tuna) was a person from the heavens. Because of the heat and aridness of the heavens, Tuna descended to this world.
Upon his arrival here he went straight into the water. The name of that waterway was Muriwai o Whata. He dwelt there for many years.
One day Hine Te Kaere went to fetch water from the lake. As she gathered her water, Tuna swam between her thighs making her rush ashore in fright. She returned to the pā to tell her husband Maui and the other people of the marae that there was a tipua or deity in the lake waters. Hine Te Kaere and the people of the pā returned to the lake to find the tipua.
When they arrived, Hine Te Kaere entered the water and Tuna, having seen her, came towards her. The people on the shore then saw Tuna. The people said, “It looks human but lives in the water”. They then decided to devise a way to make the lake safe from the tipua so they could continue to fish and gather water.
Gathering the tororaro (muehlenbeckia astonii) vine found growing on the bare land of Nuku Tawhatawhata, the people set about weaving a hīnaki or eel trap. The hīnaki was named Te Papa a Kura o Takaroa. When it was finished it was taken to the lake. The people looked for the best spot to place the hīnaki.
A deep drain was dug. The drain was called Te Ahuhu. The hīnaki was put into the middle of the drain and when the water was flowing fast and the current was strong, Tuna appeared and was caught.
Tuna was killed and cut into pieces. His head was cast into sea. This portion became the kōiro or conger eel. Tuna’s tail was also cast out to sea. This portion became the kanakana or lamprey. The body of Tuna was cast inland to the lakes and rivers. This portion became the eels we know today as the long-fin and short-fin eels, known as tuna and hao.
Recommended links:
There are numerous reports, articles and websites with information pertaining to Te Waihora and its fisheries. Following are three recommended local sites to commence your journey into learning more about Te Waihora.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/te-waihora/te-waihora-full.pdf
https://tewaihora.org
https://wet.org.nz
Date5 March 2024
Alternative NameThe hundred platforms of WaihoraDescriptionA rich source of mahinga kai, Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere is home to a remarkable number of bird and fish species, diverse collection of plants and rare species of insects and reptiles. Te Waihora is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important wetland habitats. Mahinga kai refers to the traditional practices associated with food and natural resource, and the places where those resources are obtained. As with all civilizations, a key driver for migration is the quest for land and resource. Early tribal narratives confirm this was the case for the people of Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu, the first inhabitants of this region.
Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, the local hapū or sub tribe, are the descendants of Te Ruahikihiki. Te Ruahikihiki was the ancestor who claimed this region, stating in a tribal gathering in the 1700s ‘Ko taku kāika, ko Orariki’ – my home will be at Orariki. At the time, he and the other chiefs were being informed of the resources available in the Canterbury region. Te Ruahikihiki and his descendants eventually settled at Taumutu because of its proximity to Te Waihora and the abundant resources there.
For 40 generations, Te Waihora has sustained the people of Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and Selwyn District. In 2000, in a bid to reverse the effects of overfishing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a fisheries quota management system was introduced. The fishery was restricted to shortfin eels and three species of flat fish.
Waihora Whata Rau speaks to the numerous raised storage platforms which used to adorn the landscape. These platforms were not only a visual marker indicating a village, they also spoke to the bounty of the landscape, of the land and water. The Ellesmere and Leeston landscape was bountiful. Today, whata with drying eels and fish can still be seen. Although now, the whata are no longer flat platforms but rather ‘A’ frame structures.
Tuna or eels are an important food source for the local hapū Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and more widely for the iwi Ngāi Tahu. In local tradition, the origin of the eels in Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere can be traced back to an atua or deity called Tuna o Runga i te Rangi. The following narrative is an adaption of an account recorded in a Ngāi Tahu manuscript from the early 1880’s.
Creation of Tuna
Tuna o Runga i te Rangi (Tuna) was a person from the heavens. Because of the heat and aridness of the heavens, Tuna descended to this world.
Upon his arrival here he went straight into the water. The name of that waterway was Muriwai o Whata. He dwelt there for many years.
One day Hine Te Kaere went to fetch water from the lake. As she gathered her water, Tuna swam between her thighs making her rush ashore in fright. She returned to the pā to tell her husband Maui and the other people of the marae that there was a tipua or deity in the lake waters. Hine Te Kaere and the people of the pā returned to the lake to find the tipua.
When they arrived, Hine Te Kaere entered the water and Tuna, having seen her, came towards her. The people on the shore then saw Tuna. The people said, “It looks human but lives in the water”. They then decided to devise a way to make the lake safe from the tipua so they could continue to fish and gather water.
Gathering the tororaro (muehlenbeckia astonii) vine found growing on the bare land of Nuku Tawhatawhata, the people set about weaving a hīnaki or eel trap. The hīnaki was named Te Papa a Kura o Takaroa. When it was finished it was taken to the lake. The people looked for the best spot to place the hīnaki.
A deep drain was dug. The drain was called Te Ahuhu. The hīnaki was put into the middle of the drain and when the water was flowing fast and the current was strong, Tuna appeared and was caught.
Tuna was killed and cut into pieces. His head was cast into sea. This portion became the kōiro or conger eel. Tuna’s tail was also cast out to sea. This portion became the kanakana or lamprey. The body of Tuna was cast inland to the lakes and rivers. This portion became the eels we know today as the long-fin and short-fin eels, known as tuna and hao.
Recommended links:
There are numerous reports, articles and websites with information pertaining to Te Waihora and its fisheries. Following are three recommended local sites to commence your journey into learning more about Te Waihora.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/te-waihora/te-waihora-full.pdf
https://tewaihora.org
https://wet.org.nz
Date5 March 2024Image
Collection
Map
Connections
Attribution
Written ByPuamiria Parata-GoodallDate WrittenMarch 2024
Date WrittenMarch 2024Waihora Whata Rau (5 March 2024). Selwyn Stories, accessed 19/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6000
