Kōrero of the Land - Special Tour

Bookings essential.
20 per session max.
Tour-goers to meet at the Puke Ariki Museum front entrance.
Price includes a coffee or tea at Green Door Café following the tour.

Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Huatoki te awa
Ko Paiare, ko Paitawa ngā toka tapu
Ko Tokomaru te waka
Ko Te Atiawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Te Whiti te hapū
Ko Parahuka te marae
Ko Puke Ariki te pā tūwatawata
Ko Te Rangiapitirua te rangatira
Tihei mauri ora

Tying in with Swallowing Geography, join educator Damon Ritai (Ngāti Te Whiti) to share narratives of Puke Ariki and the Ngāti Te Whiti stories that are linked to this land.

The marae atea is Parahuka and the fortified pā that once stood at the museum site was called Puke Ariki which translates as ‘Chiefs hill’ (established 1760s). Te Rangiapitirua was the chief that established this pā.

Damon is a descendant of Te Rangiapitirua and has affiliations to Te Atiawa and the local hapū Ngāti Te Whiti.

His pepeha links to this place. The pepeha kōrero above that Damon has provided speaks to the close connection that he and Ngāti Te Whiti have with significant local landmarks like maunga Taranaki, Paritutu, Ngāmotu (Islands), the Huatoki river, Kāwa roa (the kaimoana reefs) and te moana (the sea).

All participants for this public programme need to meet at the front of Puke Ariki museum where the narrative begins with a focus on physical landmarks surrounding and in Puke Ariki.

Damon’s tour concludes with a chance for Q&A at Green Door Café.