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Te Hoiere Awa | Pelorus River

Te Hoiere is an iconic wāhi tapu (sacred place) to Ngāti Kuia. We call it the centre of the universe. It is an iconic river which our tīpuna explored, named and utilised. It is a core part of our cultural identity. We are identified as tangata whenua here. Te Hoiere was included in the Te Hoiere and Ko Rai areas identified by Ngāti Kuia tīpuna in 1883 as a place of their lands.

Ngāti Kuia kōrero tuku iho (spoken tradition) states that Matua Hautere named this awa. He was following the kōrero of his tīpuna Kupe and trying to find a way through to Whakatū (Nelson). Guided by his kaitiaki and tīpuna Kaikaiāwaro he had gone up the Pelorus Sound and River in his waka Te Hoiere. The river was navigable from the sea. When Matua Hautere explored the awa with Kaikaiāwaro he left his waka at a place we call Te Herenga (the tying up).

Ngāti Kuia tīpuna had extensive knowledge of where to gather kai (food) and other taonga (treasures), as well as how to use the resources of the awa (river) and whenua (land) in a sustainable and respectful way. These values continue to be important to Ngāti Kuia today.

Its whole extent was a vital source of industrial raw materials, mahinga kai (food production areas) - including abundant eels - and the mouth of the river was a rich source of fish and shellfish. Adjacent woodlands and wetlands were rich in bird and marine life. The river environs were also a noted source of high quality flax, which assisted Ngāti Kuia in establishing their reputation as skilful flax weavers.

The awa also formed an important junction of a number of hinterland trails, linking the people living at Te Hoiere with other settlements elsewhere in Te Tau Ihu and forming routes for the transport of pakohe (Argillite stone) from interior districts. Inland kainga (villages) were occupied seasonally, especially during the kererū season. The awa was and is still used and is significant for Ngāti Kuia today. There are a number of important pā, kainga, wāhi tapu, urupā (burial sites), mahinga kai and cultivation areas associated with the awa.

Te Hoiere symbolises for Ngāti Kuia people the intense nature of their relationship to their environment and the mauri or life force that is contained in all parts of the natural environment and binds the spiritual and physical worlds. Te Hoiere incorporates the cultural value of Ngāti Kuia mauri. Ngāti Kuia has mana, whakapapa associations and history here. We have tikanga and kawa which involve tapu and noa at this place. We have a responsibility and obligation to this place and its cultural, spiritual, historic and traditional values

Ngāti Kuia Pepeha

Ko Maungatapu te Maunga

Ko Te Hoiere te Awa

Ko Te Hoiere te Waka

Ko Kaikaiāwaro te Taniwha

Ko Matua Hautere te Tangata

Maranga mai e Te Iwi Pakohe

Maranga mai e Te Iwi Ngāti Kuia

• Nicki Hemi Pou Ruruku | Project Director
• Shannon Huntley Pou Pakihi | Te Hoiere Operations Manager
• Sarah Huntley Kaiwhakahaere i Te Hoiere | Te Hoiere Centre Manager