Whakakaiwhara Point

“Tāwharariki!” a voice called out from the Tainui canoe, as they approached Whakakaiwhara Point. This wasn’t a cry of alarm, but one of excitement. The crew, weary from their journey, recognized the edible flowers of the kiekie vine covering the cliffs. They eagerly came ashore to feast, giving the point its name: Whakakaiwhara, “the place where tāwharariki was eaten”. Whakakaiwhara Point, jutting into the Tamaki Strait, offers us a 360-degree panorama of history and natural beauty. This strategic location served as an ideal pā site for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, a defensive settlement with steep sides providing natural protection. From here, they could survey their domain, a landscape rich with resources from the sea and the land. This point has witnessed centuries of change. The Tainui waka, an important part of Māori history, first visited the point in the 1300s. Later, Ngāi Tai, descendants of the waka’s crew, made this area their home, leaving behind the remnants of Whakakaiwhara Pā and Te Oue Pā. They cleared much of the peninsula for gardens, leaving behind a few precious pockets of original forest, including the magnificent kauri tree. In the 1860s, a new chapter began. Thomas Duder purchased the land, transforming Whakakaiwhara Point and the surrounding area into a working farm. For generations, the Duder family raised sheep, their lives intertwined with the land and the nearby Umupuia Beach, a popular picnic spot for locals. Even today, Whakakaiwhara Point remains a working farm. As you walk along the peninsula, notice the sheep and cows grazing peacefully. This land continues to provide sustenance, a link to both its ancient and more recent past. Whakakaiwhara Point reminds us of the enduring connection between people and place. It’s a place where the echoes of ancient canoes mingle with the bleating of sheep, a testament to the layers of history etched into this dramatic landscape.