Stories of our Sites

Te Koopuu Maania o Kirikiriroa - Central Library

According to our traditional accounts, the original name for the hill that once extended through Garden Place was known to Ngaati Wairere as Te Koopuu Maania o Kirikiriroa (the smooth belly of Kirikiriroa). This hill was famed in pre-European times for its gardens and cultivations along its eastern and northern slopes.

Te Kete Aronui - Rototuna Library

The Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa (THaWK) group collectively came up with the following name and narrative for the building. 

“A new name that is significant and relevant to this building in Rototuna. We are referring to Te Kete Aronui, a basket of knowledge of aroha, peace and the arts and crafts which benefit the Earth and all living things – one of the three baskets of knowledge. This basket relates to knowledge acquired through careful observation of the environment. It is also the basket of ritual, of literature, philosophy and is sometimes regarded as the basket of the humanities. This is how we would describe and refer to this place."

- Sonny Karena

Kukutaaruhe - Chartwell Library

Kukutaaruhe was the name of the gully system that extends through Claudelands and northwards towards Donny Park in Chartwell. In Te Reo Maaori, Kukutaaruhe translates as Kuku (native pigeon) Taaruhe (flight) in reference to the once large flocks of native pigeons that flew en masse in this area, densely forested with kahikatea and tawa trees. Ancient Maaori made snaring troughs termed Waituhi that were used for catching thirsty pigeons when they feasted upon the berries of the Miro, Kahikatea and Tawa.

Te Tiwha O Pareiiriwhare - Dinsdale Library

Te Tiwha O Pareiiriwhare was the ancient name for the Dinsdale Hills, the ancient western boundary between the lands of Ngaati Ngamurikaitaua and Ngaati Kooura – sub-tribes of Ngaati Wairere. Pareiiriwhare was a land-dwelling taniwha; its spine made up the ridge lines of the hills that overlook the suburb of Dinsdale.

Mangakootukutuku - Glenview Library

Mangakootukutuku refers to the name of the gully that runs under State Highway 3 near Collins Road. The Kootukutuku (Fuchsia Excorticata) grew in abundance along its gully system. Its berries were known as koonini and were traditionally gathered as a food source by ancient Maaori.

Manga-o-nua - Hillcrest Library

Manga-o-nua is the name of the main gully stream that runs under State Highway 1 and Morrinsville Road. It was a tribal landmark in pre-European times marking the traditional boundaries between Ngaati Wairere and Ngaati Hauaa. The Manga-o-nua gully was used for gathering native trout and tuna (eels) that migrated upstream from the Waikato River. Tuna were dried and hung from Tuna Pataka - elevated storage huts.

Waiwherowhero - St Andrews Library

Waiwherowhero was famed by ancient Maaori as a gathering place of the sacred ochre (Kookoowai) that was found in naturally occurring iron oxide in peat swamps. Woven mats were set in the stream bed as screens in order that the iron enriched water filtered through the mats coating them with a thick fine powder. The ochre was then scraped off the mats and baked in a hot umu or fire until the rustic red pigment appeared.