Ōtautahi manawhenua

Some facts from the (61 page!) Christchurch Central Recovery Plan

Te Mahere ‘Maraka Ōtautahi’ 

"A variety of elements influence greater Christchurch, its form and culture, uses of the land and the people that call it home. This section provides an overview of the people of Christchurch and the history of the area.

Tāhuhu kōrero/ historic background
The Ngāi Tahu migration to Canterbury was led by the hapū, Ngāi Tuhaitara and the sons of Tū-āhu-riri, Taane-Tiki, Moki and Tūrakautahi. The waka (canoe) that brought them to the region was the Makawhiua, whose captain was the rangatira (chief), Maka. Once Ngāi Tuhaitara had established Kaiapoi Pā as their principal fort, the leading chiefs such as Maka, Huikai, Turakipō, Te Ake, Hika-tutae, Te Raki whakaputa, Whakuku, Makō and Te Ruahikihiki established the mana (authority) of Ngāi Tuhaitara to the land by occupation and intermarriage. 

Image credit: Scene on the Horotueka or Cam/Kaiapoi Pah/Canterbury, 1855, Watercolour on paper 

- Charles Haubroe watercolour, Canterbury Museum

While Ōtautahi was formerly the name of a specific site in central Christchurch, it was adopted by Mr Te Ari Taua Pitama of Ngāi Tūāhuriri as the general name for Christchurch in the 1930s. Before this, Ngāi Tahu generally referred to the Christchurch area by suburb: Pū-taringamotu (Riccarton), Ōpawa, Puāri (Central Christchurch West), Ōtautahi (Central Christchurch East) and Te Kai-a-Te- Karoro (New Brighton). ‘Karaitiana’, a Māori transliteration of the English word ‘Christian’ or ‘Christianity’ was also a name used by Ngāi Tahu to refer to the whole of Christchurch City. 

From these places of occupation, connections were traced to other mahinga kai resources and settlements across Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and Canterbury. The Ngāi Tahu group which holds the traditional relationships with Central Christchurch are the whānau and hapū of Ngāi Tūāhuriri based at Tuahiwi marae in North Canterbury. Ngāi Tūāhuriri are acknowledged as holding manawhenua (traditional authority) over this area of the city." 

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (2012). Central City Recovery Plan. Christchurch: Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. Page 11. 

And from the Christchurch Public Library website (who clearly have more page space so thankfully can include the wildlife!):  

"Te Potiki Tautahi was one of the original Ngāi Tahu people to settle in the Canterbury region. His settlement was at Koukourarata (Port Levy) on Horomaka (Banks Peninsula). At that time, the swampy flatlands of the present day site of Christchurch city were abundant with food such as ducks, weka, eels and small fish. 

Tautahi and his people made frequent forays from Koukourarata around the Peninsula and then up the Ōtākaro (Avon River) to gather kai. They camped on the river banks as they caught eels and snared birds in the harakeke. Tautahi died during one of these visits and is buried in the urupā on the site of what was St Luke’s Church vicarage on the corner of Kilmore and Manchester Streets (demolished following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes). 

The area now defined as Christchurch city was named as Tautahi’s special territory. The full name is Te Whenua o Te Potiki-Tautahi, this was later shortened to Ō Te Potiki Tautahi and then shortened further to the name we have today, Ōtautahi."

Retrieved from http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/ti-kouka-whenua/otautahi/ 4 November 2015