“Large war canoe plume,” what does that conjure up for you? Today, we’re exploring the story of the Tuawahine Stream, a waterway connected to a rich history. It is a stream in the Auckland Region. The stream’s story intertwines with conflict and restoration.
Let’s dive in.
The Tuawahine Stream links to the Puhinui Creek, also known as the Puhinui Stream or Te Puhinui. This major stream flows through South Auckland. It journeys westward from Totara Park through Manukau. At Wiri, it turns southwest towards the Manukau Harbour.
The Puhinui Creek stretches about 12 kilometers. Its catchment spans roughly 2,964 hectares. The stream begins in Totara Park. This nature reserve sits east of Manukau. It winds south towards the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Then the stream changes course. It flows west and northwest through Manurewa, Wiri, and Manukau. At Wiri, another change. The stream heads south-southwest to the Puhinui Reserve. Finally, it empties into the Manukau Harbour.
Historically, the stream lies within the Waiohua territory. This includes Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua and Te Ākitai Waiohua. Traditionally, people used the stream for collecting flax and eels. The name “Puhinui” refers to a conflict. It involved the Waiohua and Marutūāhu tribes. The name comes from a Marutūāhu waka taua. This war canoe hid in ambush in the stream.
For at least six hundred years, Tāmaki Māori peoples settled near the stream’s mouth. Close to the creek are the volcanoes Matukutūreia and Matukutūruru. These were home to two hilltop pā, collectively known as Matukurua. The mountains’ names tell a story of two chiefs. The chief of Matukutūruru was captured while fishing for eels. The chief of Matukutūreia rescued the pā and people.
Tāmaki Māori cultivated over 8,000 hectares of stonefield gardens. These gardens lay on the volcanoes’ lower slopes. They grew crops like kūmara and bracken fern root. The upper stream catchment served mainly for resource collecting.
In January 1836, missionary William Thomas Fairburn brokered a land sale. This was between Tāmaki Māori chiefs. It included the Puhinui Creek catchment. But it’s unclear if the chiefs fully understood or consented to the sale. Māori continued living in South Auckland, unaffected by this sale. In the 1850s, the McLaughlin family’s Puhi Nui estate included land around the lower Puhinui Creek. The Invasion of the Waikato in 1863 led to land confiscations around the creek.
In the 20th century, much of the Puhinui Creek’s catchment became farmland. During World War II, American military camps were set up at Totara Park. These camps were along the upper Puhinui Creek. The stream was heavily modified. This happened especially with the construction of the Southern and Southwestern Motorways. These bisect the creek. In 1982, the Auckland Botanic Gardens opened along the upper creek.
By the early 2000s, the stream had become highly polluted. Since then, intensive regeneration work has been done. In 2016, the Puhinui Creek was named the most improved stream. In 2022, the Auckland Council partnered with local iwi. They created Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui. This is a generational plan to restore the creek. By July 2023, over 14,000 native trees had been planted along the stream’s banks.
Today, the Puhinui Creek offers several amenities. These include the Auckland Botanic Gardens. You can also find the Tōtara Puhinui Creek Path. This public walkway runs along the stream’s upper catchment. Another option is the Puhinui Stream Forest Trail. This walking track connects Totara Park with the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Lastly, there is the Puhinui Reserve. This reserve sits at the creek’s mouth and serves as an important estuarine nature reserve habitat.
The Tuawahine Stream’s journey reflects Auckland’s history. From ancient conflicts to modern restoration, it holds many stories. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our waterways. It also shows how communities can come together to heal damaged ecosystems.