Tohu whenua (cultural markers) telling Kāi Tahu narratives and histories have been installed at 10 locations along Te Aka Ōtākou, the walking and cycling path that follows Otago Harbour’s edge from Portobello to Port Chalmers.
The Dunedin City Council (DCC) partnered with mana whenua to develop the installations and select and prepare each site. The project was led by mana whenua owned organisation, Aukaha.
As with the tohu whenua along the retail section of George Street, the new markers’ narratives and imagery provide insight into the rich and layered Kāi Tahu history and world view. They highlight significant landmarks, original Kāi Tahu place names, practices, values and pūrākau (stories).
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison says the tohu whenua provide an accessible way for visitors to connect with the history and stories embedded in the landmarks around the harbour.
“These tohu whenua offer a glimpse into te ao Kāi Tahu – the Kāi Tahu worldview – providing real-time insight into the stories and histories that have shaped these lands, waterways, and people. While we can read about these histories in books or online, encountering them in the very places where they unfolded offers a far more intimate and meaningful experience.”
Some of the subjects include Te Umukurī (Wellers Rock), information about waka traditions and inland trails, and stories of the natural world. One tohu whenua located at Roseneath shares the story behind the panels designed by Kāi Tahu artist Simon Kaan, which form the retaining wall of the Roseneath cutting. These panels illustrate the twisting journey of the guardian taniwha, Matamata, whose movements shaped Otago Harbour.
Ōtepoti Dunedin Mayor, Jules Radich says, “People who seek out trails like Te Aka Ōtākou appreciate seeing interpretation panels that add real depth to their experience. Until now, Te Aka Ōtākou has had few interpretation panels and very little from a Kāi Tahu perspective, so the tohu whenua really fill a void. We can all better understand local values and principles and gain a deeper sense of place through cultural markers like these.
“Our partnership with Kāi Tahu in developing the tohu whenua is part of a longer-term effort to place similar markers in other places of significance in Ōtepoti Dunedin.”