Tribal History, Culture and Identity Reflected in Farm's Renaming

An ancient healing spring has been acknowledged in the gifting of a name for a Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW) farm.

Ngāruahine hapū Okahu and Inuawai, of Aotearoa Pā, have given the name Waitokorau to the 120-hectare farm at Okaiawa. Formerly known as Farm 29, on the corner of Mawhitiwhiti and Hastings Roads, the new name was formalised with a naming ceremony and unveiling of new signage.

Tribal history, culture and identity are all reflected in the name Waitokorau. Okahu and Inuawai chair John Hooker said the name Waitokorau reflects hapū aspirations to foster peace, wellbeing and healing for hapū, PKW ringawera (workers) and the wider Ngāruahine and Taranaki uri.

“When we were selecting from a range of names, we wanted a name that recognises positivity and healthy influences – a name that can have a flow-on effect to our whenua, our farm, our kaimahi and our uri.”

“The name Waitokorau refers to a healing spring or puna that our Okahu people used in the old days and even to this current day. The spring was used in ancient ceremonies, such as those carried out when our war parties returned from battle. They would be taken to that puna and spiritually cleansed so they could enter back into normal Okahutiti pā life. (Okahutiti was the fortress located beside the puna). Right up to recent days, the puna is still being used by Okahu and Inuawai uri for healing and rongoā purposes.”

Unveiling the gifted name is a continuation of recognising, renewing and protecting whānau connections to the whenua, says Jacqui King, Head of Corporate Services at PKW.

“People and place are critically important to us. We are working hard to represent whānau in a manner they can be proud of, and in a way that reignites our connections and returns our names to our whenua.”

The re-naming ceremony, unveiling and blessing was held on 10 December 2019, attended by about 40 mana whenua, kaimahi and students from the nearby Kura O Ngāruahinerangi. Alongside Te Ruru, Te Kahu and the Te Kahu extension, Waitokorau brings the number of re-named farms to four. Over time, PKW will work alongside hapū and marae to re-name the remaining 20 farms.

“This is a way of bringing our communities together and engaging directly with whānau, and that is an essential part of our mahi.” Jacqui said. “Returning our names to the whenua has enormous significance both for whānau and for PKW as an organisation.”

Shane Miles, General Manager Ahuwhenua, said Waitokorau is currently used for dairy support and grazing, and is ring-marked for PKW’s medium-term diversification strategy. In the meantime, some of the whenua is being retired for wetland regeneration in alignment with the kaitiakitanga strategy.

“Past decisions to drain whenua to create more productive farmland are being reversed in areas where we believe it’s better to turn the clock back on things that were done 50 or 60 years ago,” Shane says. “Wetlands were a natural filter for nutrients, so in accordance with our riparian plans we’re looking at regenerating streams or wetland areas, planting and fencing to give the whenua a chance to revert back to what it was supposed to be.”

In light of strategies we are actively advancing on this farm, the gifted name is not only a privilege but is also very appropriate”.