Kā Ara Tawhito

Discover our Traditional Travel Routes

Ngāi Tahu inherited from earlier iwi, a complex infrastructure of ara tawhito (traditional travel routes) throughout Te Waipounamu, which were the arteries of important social and economic relationships. They provided access to resources, trade, and mahinga kai. Over generations of use, Ngāi Tahu hapū and whānau developed an extensive and intimate knowledge of the place names, stories, mahinga kai resources, resting places, and natural features associated with each ara tawhito.