Manurewa

What does a soaring kite have to do with Manurewa? Well, let me tell you. Right here in Manurewa, the name itself whispers a tale of a kite lost and found. Manurewa comes from “manu aute,” Māori for “kite,” or more poetically, “soaring bird.” This Manurewa was once a small, rural community, growing steadily after the railway station opened in 1875. Imagine it: a quiet village spreading out from the Great South Road. Much of the land was owned by the Martin family, their estate stretching grandly across the area. Manurewa’s story is intertwined with the local Māori iwi, particularly Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua. The area has been inhabited since at least the 13th century, with the nearby volcanic peaks of Matukutūreia and Matukutūru holding special significance. These volcanoes witnessed the growth of vast stonefield gardens, tended by Tāmaki Māori peoples, where crops like kūmara flourished. The name Manurewa also echoes a legend. It’s a shortened form of Te Manurewa o Tamapahore, “The Drifted-away Kite of Tamapahore.” The story speaks of a kite-flying competition, where Tamapahore’s kite soared the highest. His brother, in a jealous act, cut the string, sending the kite drifting away. Tamapahore’s journey to reclaim his prized kite mirrors the journeys of many who have made Manurewa their home. By 1937, Manurewa had become a borough, a testament to its growing population. The Auckland Botanic Gardens, a haven for nature lovers, opened here in 1982, attracting over a million visitors annually. Southmall Manurewa, opened in 1967, became a bustling shopping hub. Today, Manurewa is a vibrant, multicultural suburb, with a rich Pasifika presence and the highest proportion of Māori residents in Auckland. From a quiet village to a thriving suburb, Manurewa’s story, like Tamapahore’s kite, continues to soar.