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Oral and written histories of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei point to an extensive network of settlements, resource areas and pathways by which tūpuna kept their ahi-kā burning brightly across Tāmaki. These pathways connected ngahere (forests), māra kai (food plots) and mahinga mātaitai (places of customary seafood collection) across the isthmus landform and both Waitematā and Te Mānukanuka o Hoturoa harbours. Extensive knowledge of whenua and moana allowed iwi to sustainably manage resources, enabling respect and acknowledgement of manuhiri through the extension of hospitality, generosity and care.
The concept of taurima means to offer the most succulent offerings to your guests, which in turn elevates the mana of your people. There is much opportunity to celebrate and express the functions of sharing kai, but also to celebrate the special native and natural kai of Tāmaki.
Tāmaki kainga ngā ika, ngā wheua
Tāmaki, so rich in abundance, you can eat the fish bones and all
A whakataukī / proverb which identifies cultural and physical attributes of Tāmaki, establishing and recognising this as a place of bounty and well-being.
E tohu ana ngā kōrero tuku iho ā-waha, ā-tuhi hoki a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei i ngā nōhanga whānui, i ngā wāhi kohi rawa me ngā ara hāereere i kā ai ō rātou ahi, puta noa i Tāmaki. Nā aua ara rā i tūhono ngā ngahere, ngā māra kai me ngā mahinga mātaitai, puta noa i te kūititanga o te whenua, tae atu ki ngā whanga o Waitematā me Te Mānukanuka o Hoturoa. Nā te whānui o te mōhiotanga ki ngā whenua me ngā moana i taea ai e ngā iwi te whakahaere ngā rawa taiao i runga i te whai kia ora tautini aua rawa rā, ā, nā reira i ū ai te whakaaro nui ki ā rātou manuhiri mā roto i te manaakitanga, i te oha me te atawhai.
Ko te tikanga o te kupu taurima, ko te tuku i te puru rourou ki ō manuhiri, ā, mā reira e ū ai te mana o tō iwi. He nui ngā ara e wātea ana ki te whakanui kaupapa, ki te whakatinana hoki i ngā tikanga o te kai tahi, waihoki te whakatairanga i ngā kai taketake me ngā kai māori o Tāmaki.
Tāmaki kainga ngā ika, ngā wheua
He whakataukī tēnei e whakaatu ana i ngā āhuatanga ā-ahurea, ā-kikokiko hoki o Tāmaki, e whakaū ana, e whakanui ana anō hoki i tēnei wāhi hei wāhi makuru, ā-kai, ā-oranga.
