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Conference Imagery

Conference Theme - Te Pitau Whakarei

Te Pitau Whakarei is the Maori phrase that describes the action that takes place where the very most prow of a Waka (vessel) meets with the water whilst moving at speed; in turn creating a bow wave that ripples forth in an outwards “V” shape from the prow.

The Creation Team choose this inspirational phrase to name the 2009 conference because it symblised both the awesome energy generated in the seas surrounding our picturesque region; and the dynamic possibilities for the conference.

Geographical Links

Nelson - Whakatu is part of the “top of the south” region of the South Island of New Zealand - Aotearoa. The “top of the south” is known as “Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui”. This name comes from the legend of Maui who was a demigod.

Tau Ihu is the name the prow of a Waka. A Tau Ihu is the very tip of an object. The rear most point of a Waka is a named a Tau Rapa. Due to the south island being Te Waka a Maui (the canoe of Maui – as per the legend) with our location at the top of the Waka, we are known in the abbreviated form as Te Tau Ihu.

Being in the Tau Ihu relates to the conference theme of creating a bow wave for facilitation because by virtue of our geographical location, we are doing this daily in relation to the seas that surround us and the links to the North Island – Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui).

The legend of Maui fishing up Te Ika a Maui - the North Island of New Zealand

In Aotearoa, New Zealand there are many tales told of Maui for he it was who slowed the Sun, in the days when it would race across the sky; and he it was who gained the secret of fire from Mahuika. But the story which I shall tell is of how Maui tikitiki a Taranga, Maui the last born, fished up an Island, the North Island of New Zealand.

Now often the brothers of Maui would go fishing, and due to their distrust and jealousy of their younger brother they would leave him behind. But Maui Potiki was cunning and in the night he hid himself beneath the boards of their Waka and the next morning when they went out he remained below. The brothers went to their fishing grounds, but Maui had already ensured that the fish would not be there, and so the brothers went further and further out into the ocean.

Finally when far from the land Maui emerged from his hiding place. His brothers, angry and surprised, talked about returning to land, but Maui scorned them saying "what use is that, we are so far from land now, that it would take too long to return." The brothers cast their lines, but to Maui they would give no bait, and so Maui the Trickster smote his own nose, so it would bleed; this he smeared upon a miraculous jawbone given him by his grandmother, and this he cast into the sea. Down went this enchanted fish hook, Te Matau a Maui, down into the very deepest depths of the ocean.

Something had the line and Maui, heaved. With all his might he heaved; with straining muscles and sweating brow he pulled; with clenching teeth and rolling eyes he dragged his fish up from the sea. Finally, Te Ika a Maui, the Fish of Maui, rose up and lay out smooth upon the surface of the sea. As Maui returned to land to give thanks for his catch, his brothers in their greed attacked the, fish, the Ika a Maui, and chopped into its sweet tender flesh.
The creature thrashed and writhed in its pain, and herein turned to stone. That is why Te Ika a Maui, the North Island of New Zealand, is a rugged land of high mountains and deep valleys. If not for Maui's brothers this land would be smooth as the back of a stingray.

When Maui realized that he had brought up the island, he was so delighted that he tossed his fish hook far up into the heavens, where it caught and hung, outlined with bright stars."

And so goes the Maori story of the creation of the Fish Hook of Maui, the star group we know as Scorpius, but that is another story.

Link to legend of Maui: www.taamtourism.co.nz/

Note when you log onto the site an audio starts followed by graphics that lead you to the home page having told the legend of Maui and Te Ika. Once you reach the home page – click on the tab titled ‘Te Tau Ihu’ for a 3 minute demo about the living legends in our region, once the demo is over, the movie runs for about 17 minutes with unassuming, authentic interviews and spectacular scenery from all across Te Tau Ihu.

Link to Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand for more about Maui:
www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/FirstPeoplesInMaoriTradition/3/en

Kawau (the Shag bird)

Kawau (the Shag bird) is a Kaitiaki (Guardian) in the legends of local tribes. One story tell us of how Kawau aides with the navigation of a renown treacherous stretch of water. This infamous tidal passage is called “Te Aumiti”, since European settlers it has been called French Pass after the explorer D’Urville. It is the fast moving naturally formed canal between the mainland – Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui (the South Island of NZ) and Rangitoto (D’Urville Island).

The legend says that inexperienced navigators will end on peril on the rocks from following dolphins that they wrongly believe to be guiding them. The locals say the dolphins are attempting to prevent Waka from using the pass as a far shorter route for coastal navigation.

The legend tells us it is Kawau (Shag) that shows the way through the pass and does this by swimming under water - as shags do – rising to the surface at regular intervals of up to 20 metres for each dive. If a Waka follows Kawau by moving to the second the last place it surfaces, eventually they will make their way safely to the other end of the stretch of water and back to the open sea.

The Creation team was moved to use Kawau as the conference graphic symbol because it is so revered by the local tribes, it creates its own unique Pitau Whakarei; and is one of the many varied and magical wildlife native to our region.

The narrow channel between the mainland of the South Island and D’Urville Island is known as French Pass or Te Aumiti. In oral tradition it is the resting place of Kupe’s pet cormorant or shag, which explored the area on Kupe’s behalf. Its name was Te Kawau-a-Toru (which means ‘the shag kept by Toru’; Toru is the short name for Potoru, captain of the Te Rino canoe). While testing the channel waters to see if they were safe for Kupe’s canoe, Te Kawau-a-Toru got caught in the violent tidal rips, broke a wing, and was drowned. The reef over which the waters of French Pass boil and seethe is Kupe’s loyal bird turned to stone – Te Aumiti a te Kawau-a-Toru (the currents that swallowed Toru’s shag). The rocky point where a lighthouse now stands is said to be the bird’s petrified bones.

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