Tapuwae document a footprint on landscape

26 February 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Tapuwae document a footprint on landscape

A series of hui on marae heritage work is proving an ideal forum for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga to also promote its vision for Māori heritage places.

The 20 hui began last month and will continue until early April. Included in hui discussions is the distribution of Tapuwae, the NZHPT Māori Heritage Council (MHC) document on how to identify, protect, preserve, conserve and advance Māori heritage.

Sir Tumu te Heuheu (Ngāti Tuwharetoa) is chairperson of the Māori Heritage Council, with council members Dr Merata Kawharu (Ngāti Whatua, Ngā Puhi), Gerard O’Regan (Ngāi Tahu), Dr Apirana Mahuika (Ngāti Porou), Manos Nathan (Te Roroa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi), Jamie Tuuta (Ngāti Mutunga) and Che Wilson (Ngāti Rangi, Whanganui).

Tapuwae, which means footprint, aims to ensure Māori heritage is not only identified but appreciated to build a greater understanding of Māori culture and history and its value to all New Zealanders. The document says it “articulates a vision for Māori heritage, one which will secure a future for a dynamic indigenous heritage that all New Zealanders can be proud of”.

Tapuwae also highlights specific concerns, notably that over the past 150 years much Māori land-based and built heritage has been seriously undermined and damaged. Other reasons for producing the document include the need to

• dispel the myth that Māori heritage is of value to Māori only
• increase national understanding and value of this key part of New Zealand’s heritage
• increase recognition that heritage is vital to a healthy and vibrant economy and society
• help iwi preserve and protect their heritage – a need they have identified
• increase property owners and developers’ understanding of heritage generally – specifically Māori heritage.

NZHPT Kaihautu Te Kenehi Teira said there were many examples of Māori heritage being shared as national treasures.

“Tapuwae contains a very important message, that here’s a way of not only identifying these places, but telling their stories through protecting and promoting them.

“The opening of an exhibition commemorating the formal protection by the Christchurch City Council of Takapuneke (on Akaroa Harbour) as an historic reserve earlier this month attracted up to 1000 people to an area associated with a series of tragic events for Ngāi Tahu people in the 1830s,” Mr Teira said.

“There are other sites where the NZHPT have worked in partnership with iwi over many years to encourage people to visit Māori heritage sites – including Opotaka and Te Porere, near Turangi. These Māori and Historic Reserves have been restored and maintained by Ngati Hikairo ki Tongariro with support of the Tuwharetoa Trust Board.

“Other examples of how groups with divergent interests can combine in heritage protection and preservation include Te Aro Pa in Wellington and the Rock Art interpretation site in South Canterbury. It shows that Māori heritage, under the kaitiakitanga of respective iwi, can be understood and appreciated by the wider community.”

Tapuwae is available to read and download, in English and Māori, from www.historic.org.nz.

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