Ngāi Tahu – Cultural Mapping Project

Rakaia

Map drawn for Julius von Haast, c.1865

This map of Māori place names in the Rakaia and Hakatere (Ashburton River) catchments was probably drawn by a Ngāi Tahu informant for Julius von Haast around 1865. As the geologist for the Canterbury Provincial Government in the 1860s, Haast explored and surveyed the major Canterbury River systems that drain the eastern flanks of Kā Tiritiri-o-te-moana (the Southern Alps). The map provides the earliest comprehensive description of the Rakaia and Hakatere rivers. It includes detailed information on the topography of the river systems, lakes and passes of both catchments. Place names on the map include Ōtūroto (Lake Heron), Whakamatau (Lake Coleridge), Te Ruahikihiki (Lake Selfe), and Ōkirihonuhonu (Lake Emma). It also shows that the Rakaia is divided into several sections: Rakaia-wai-kī is the southern branch of the Rakaia, Waitāwhiri is the Wilberforce River, and Rakaia-wai-pākihi is the Mathias River. The name ‘Rakaia' specifically refers to the section of the river from its mouth to the junction of the Wilberforce and Mathias rivers.

Julius von Haast

Julius von Haast was a German geologist who explored Waitaha Canterbury extensively in the 1860s before becoming the founding Director and Curator of the Canterbury Museum in 1870. Haast was originally sent to New Zealand to assess its suitability for German immigrants. He explored the Auckland area and Waikato, Lake Taupō, the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel with an emphasis on their geography and geology.

In Te Waipounamu, he focused on Nelson, Golden Bay, and Picton before moving down the West Coast identifying valuable minerals in the ranges between Nelson and the Grey River and completing a topographical map of 'Westland'. 

When he finally reached Canterbury, his geological expertise made the rail tunnel from Lyttelton to Christchurch possible and he was rewarded with the position of Provincial Geologist to Canterbury from 1861-1868. During this time, he continued his geological investigations of the West Coast and Canterbury. He discovered coal and gold, identified the origins of the Mackenzie Plains, collected numerous biological specimens, and 'discovered' and re-named several central South Island glaciers. 

He put his samples and specimens to good use as foundation holdings of the Canterbury Museum. When Canterbury College was established, he lectured in geology from 1873, becoming a full professor in 1876. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1867, received a hereditary knighthood from the Austrian Emperor in 1875, and the Royal Geographical Society’s Patron’s Gold Medal in 1884 for his explorations of New Zealand.

Julius von Haast, c.1867, unknown photographer, 1/4-002124G, Alexander Turnbull Library 

Report on the Rakaia

In the summer of 1865-6 Haast embarked on an expedition to survey the various headwaters of the Rakaia and its tributaries in order to produce a topological and geological record of the area. The comprehensive report of his explorations produced for the Canterbury Provincial Government was published later in 1866 as the Report on the headwaters of the river Rakaia: with twenty illustrations, and two appendices

During his journey, Haast created field sketches of the landscapes he encountered. He subsequently developed eleven of these sketches into watercolours which were reproduced as lithographs in the Report. This gallery features a selection of Haast's artworks depicting the Rakaia region.  

<p>View of <a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=%7b000434bf-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d" data-anchor="?find=%7b000434bf-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d">Noti Raureka&nbsp;</a>(Browning Pass) from the <a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=%7bc1049c41-4152-e311-8212-005056970030%7d" data-anchor="?find=%7bc1049c41-4152-e311-8212-005056970030%7d">Waitāwhiri </a>(Wilberforce River),1866</p>
<p>Reference: Haast, Johann Franz Julius von, 1822-1887: View of Browning Pass from the valley of the Wilberforce River, Haast family: Collection. Ref. A-149-006, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. &nbsp;</p>

Sketches of Rakaia Catchment by Julius von Haast

View gallery

Appendix of Māori Place Names

This list of Māori place names for the Hakatere and Rakaia River catchments was published as an appendix to Haast's Report on the headwaters of the river Rakaia (1866). Although the identity of the Ngāi Tahu informant/s is unknown, the place names are consistent with other reliable sources of tribal information. 

Picture

Julius von Haast, Report on the headwaters of the river Rakaia, with twenty illustrations and two appendices (Christchurch: Province of Canterbury official printer, 1866), p.62. 

Mātauranga Ngāi Tahu

Intergenerational connections between Tuahiwi and Te Tai Poutini meant that communities on both the west and east coasts of Te Waipounamu were knowledgeable about routes across Kā Tiritiri-o-te-moana (Southern Alps) and how to navigate the interior. During his geological survey of Nelson, Haast met Te Tai Poutini rangatira Tarapuhi and Weretā Tainui who drew him a map in the sand illustrating the sources of the Grey and Maruia rivers and associated passes to the East Coast. 

Some of this mātauranga, especially about place names and history, was shared with the Rev. James West Stack, who worked for the Church Mission Society at Tuahiwi from 1859 until the late 1876. Stack travelled extensively around Canterbury, soliciting place names from his contacts as he went. He knew Haast well and provided translations for the Māori place names listed in Haast's report on the Rakaia River. Stack may also have introduced Haast to Ngāi Tahu individuals who provided geographical and place name information directly to him. 

Picture

Alfred C Barker, 17 December 1867, Photographs relating to New Zealand collected by Rex Nan Kivell, 1850-1950, National Library of Australia, PIC/18607/298

Rakaia and Noti Raureka

The Rakaia provided a pathway to one of the traditional passes through Kā Tiritiri-o-te-moana - Noti Raureka. A map illustrating this route was drawn by a Ngāi Tahu kaumātua for Revd James West Stack in 1865, around the same time as Haast's map of the Rakaia and Hakatere catchments was produced. Stack sent the map to the Canterbury Provincial Government on 31 March 1865, and it was immediately dispatched to surveying parties in the field. Surveyors Browning and Griffiths successfully traced the route described on the map, and Browning’s name was given to the pass. Haast relied on these survey maps during his expedition through the Rakaia and Hakatere catchments. 

The Noti Raureka map shows a large mountain and lake at the top of the pass, and a cave where Ngāi Tahu parties camped overnight. Although Arthurs Pass became the principal travel route between Canterbury and Te Tai Poutini, a track was also formed over Noti Raureka that was extensively used. The location of the original map is unknown, but it was photographed by the ethnographer William Taylor around 1942.

More information on the Noti Raureka trail.

William Anderson Taylor Collection, Canterbury Museum, 1968.213.2433

 

<p>Historically Ngāi Tahu whānui were very mobile and dependent on a wide range of natural resources throughout Te Waipounamu for their survival. Our ancestors developed a way of life closely related to the natural resources of their environment. This involved regular excursions throughout the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=%7b4ac6c7ef-3d52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d" data-anchor="?find=%7b4ac6c7ef-3d52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d">Hakatere</a> and <a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=%7b977cd2a4-3f52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d" data-anchor="?find=%7b977cd2a4-3f52-e311-8212-005056970030%7d">Rakaia </a>catchments in search of seasonal food resources, stone materials, and as a pathway to other parts of Te Waipounamu. Kāika nohoanga (permanent or seasonal camps) were situated among the rivers and lakes identified in the map collected by Haast.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find={1bf49a57-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030}" data-anchor="?find={1bf49a57-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030}">Kirihonuhonu</a> (Lake Emma), formerly known as Lake Acland, is part of the rich high-country mahinga kai area of <a href="http://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find={41703ecb-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030}" data-anchor="?find={41703ecb-3e52-e311-8212-005056970030}">Ōtūwharekai</a> (the Ashburton Lakes). In 1880 Ngāi Tahu kaumātua recorded Kirihonuhonu as a kāinga mahinga kai (food-gathering place) where tuna (eels), aruhe (bracken fernroot), and weka were gathered.</p>
<p>While the <a href="https://kareao.nz/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/ANON_DESCRIPTION/WEB_DETAIL_DESCRIPTION_REPORT/SISN%2017072?SESSIONSEARCH" title="Canterbury Deed of Purchase" data-anchor="?SESSIONSEARCH">Canterbury Deed of Purchase</a> (Kemp’s Deed) of 1848 promised to protect and reserve Ngāi Tahu mahinga kai, including those in the Rakaia and Hakatere catchments, this did not happen, and many food gathering areas were subsequently sold and destroyed.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Photographer: Tony Bridge</p>
<p>Reference: Kirihonuhonu, 2014-103-044, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Collection, Ngāi Tahu Archive.&nbsp;</p>

Ingoa Wahi of the Rakaia Catchment

View gallery