Where did Auckland begin? Right here at Te Rerenga Ora Iti. This seemingly ordinary spot holds a powerful past. It’s the place where history unfolded. A place of battles and treaties. A place where cultures clashed and a city was born.
Te Rerenga Ora Iti meaning ‘the leap of the few survivors’ was once a prominent headland. It jutted out into the Waitemata Harbour. Imagine the scene in around 1680. Ngāti Whātua clashed with Ngāti Huarere. The defeated Ngāti Huarere were forced over the cliffs. A tragic event. It gave the headland its name.
This site remained significant. It became a focal point. Ngāti Whātua held mana whenua. They had rights and authority over the land. After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Chief Apihai Te Kawau gifted land. It was right here at Te Rerenga Ora Iti that the Union Jack was raised. This marked the beginning of British settlement in Auckland.
A fort and Auckland’s first church were constructed here. Fort Britomart and St Paul’s Church stood tall. They were landmarks for years. The fort was the city’s first major military barracks. But time marched on. The headland was quarried. The stone was used for land reclamation. This act transformed the Auckland waterfront. St Paul’s Church had to be demolished.
Today little remains of the original Te Rerenga Ora Iti. However a memorial stands. Te Toka o Apihai Te Kawau commemorates Auckland’s founding. This memorial marks the spot where the headland met the water. It stands as a testament to the area’s rich history. A history of conflict and cooperation. A history of loss and creation. A reminder of what was and what is. Te Rerenga Ora Iti. The beginning.