Doesn’t the name Rakataura resonate with the echoes of ancient Polynesian voyagers? Here before us stands a sculpture that immortalizes a legendary figure. This is Rakataura. He is also known as Hape. He was a renowned navigator. He was a progenitor of many Māori iwi. Rakataura’s story is deeply interwoven with the history of this land.
Born in Hawaiki, Rakataura held the esteemed position of senior tohunga. He was a priest and navigator. He guided the Tainui migratory canoe to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Imagine the immense responsibility he bore. He led his people across the vast ocean.
Oral tradition recounts that Rakataura was born with inward-turning feet. This earned him the name Hape. Despite his physical difference, his wisdom and skill were unmatched. Some even say he possessed supernatural abilities.
One legend tells of Rakataura’s journey to New Zealand ahead of the Tainui crew. He prayed to Tangaroa. Tangaroa is the god of the sea. He sought healing for his feet. Instead, Tangaroa sent Kawea Kawea Ki te Whenua a Kupe. This was a taniwha. It was a supernatural being in the shape of a stingray. It transported him across the ocean.
Rakautaura arrived at the Manukau Harbour. He waited at Ihumatao for his people. When the Tainui crew finally arrived, they had crossed the Te Tō Waka at Ōtāhuhu. Rakataura called out from the hill. This is why the area is known as Karangahape. It means “The Call of Hape”.
Another tale speaks of Rakataura’s speed. He beat the Tainui crew to Kawhia Harbour. He leaped underground from Māhia Peninsula. These stories highlight his extraordinary connection to the land.
The sculpture, Te Waka Taumata o Horotiu represents a resting waka. It marks the original foreshore. It was the landing place of Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Paoa waka. The Tainui waka is the most well-known. This area was once a beach. The Ngāti Paoa people kept their waka here. Now, it is the bustling corner of Queen and Swanson Streets.
Notice the flock of sculpted stainless-steel seabirds. They encircle the top. They represent the resource-rich coasts of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. The tauihu is the lower part of the sculpture. It is shaped like a resting bird.
The sculpture is made of weathered steel. This gives the impression it has been here for centuries. The city has grown around it.
Rakataura’s legacy lives on in the place names of this region. Mount Albert is known as Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura. This means “The Continuous Fires of Rakataura”. Te Motu a Hiaroa, Puketutu Island is named after Rakataura’s sister Hiaroa.
Rakataura is an ancestor of Tainui. He is an ancestor of Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Raukawa. He is also an ancestor of the historical Auckland iwi Ngā Oho, Te Kawerau ā Maki, and Waiohua tribes.
As you stand before this sculpture, remember Rakataura. Remember his journey. Remember his legacy. He shaped the history and landscape of this land. He is a reminder of the rich cultural heritage that surrounds us.