Our Local Histories Uncovered
Our Local Histories Uncovered
Embedded Files
Ngā Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau: Understanding Our Volcanic Landscape
Maraea Henare is the Mātauranga Māori Learning Specialist at Auckland Museum. She is currently working on creating a wonderful resource which includes mapping activities where tamariki can locate and placed our maunga (moutains) across Tāmaki in to their geographical relationships and significance to our communities.
The resource explores the toka (rocks/stones) that originated from these volcanoes, examining how they've been used and valued throughout our history.
This kaupapa connects our ākonga to the physical and spiritual landscape of Tāmaki through a māori lenses nurturing a sense of kaitiakitanga and belonging.
You can contact Whaea Maraea here MHenare@aucklandmuseum.com to book a school visit
Te Tihi o Hinerangi by Niua Khanna Pomare and Hura
Uncover the pūrākāu behind the cliffs on west coast of Auckland. For generations, Te Kawerau ā Maki have been kaitiaki of the Waitākere Ranges (Ngā Rau Pou ā Maki) and the rugged western coastline, from Te Henga to Karekare. This pūrākau tell the stories of their tūpuna and the whenua - from the dramatic cliffs that stand sentinel over Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, to the volcanic landscape shaped by their ancestor Tiriwa, who carried Rangitoto from Karekare to its resting place in Te Waitematā.
Access to the kiriata, Season 1, episode 5.,
Te Unuhanga o Rangitoto Niua Khanna Pomare and Hura
Uncover the local histories behind how Rangitoto was carried from the West Coast of Tāmaki to the Te Waitematā Harbour. "Te Unuhanga o Rangitoto" relates to Te Kawerau-a-Maki. Their ancestor Tiriwa is credited with uplifting Rangitoto volcano from Karekare beach and carrying it to its present location in the Hauraki Gulf. This is the story of how Rangitoto was moved from the West Coast (Karekare) to the Waitematā Harbour area. Additionally, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki also holds narratives about Rangitoto's formation, with a key story attributing the emergence of Rangitoto to the Tipua couple Matakamokamo and Matakerepo, along with the deities Mataaho and Mahuika
Te Rua o Kaiwhare by Niua Khanna Pomare and Hura
Uncover the local histories behind a cave located in west of Tāmaki in Piha where the taniwhā called Kaiwhare lived. Te Rua o Kaiwhare is a pūrākau that speaks to the rich traditions of Ngāti Te Ata and Te Kawerau ā Maki. Kaiwhare, the ancestral taniwha, holds a particularly significant place in the identity of Ngāti Te Ata, who are known as 'Te Ruakaiwhare' - reflecting their deep connection to this powerful guardian of the Manukau Harbour and its coastal waters. The cave at Piha, Te Rua o Kaiwhare, sits within the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, kaitiaki of the western coastline. Through this pūrākau by Niua Khanna Pomare and Hura, we honour both iwi and the shared histories that remind us of the taniwha's role as guardian of these treacherous waters - a reminder to respect the power and tapu of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
Māori Pūrākau of Aotearoa By Isobel Joy Te aho-White
This pukapuka (book) includes many very special pūrākau from Aotearoa. There are two particular that are permeant to our local histories here in Waitematā and wider Tamaki Makaurau. This pukapuka is a must for every kura in New Zealand. Whenua takes readers back in time with each pūrākau, exploring the ways in which Aotearoa's land was formed and introducing children to legendary Maori figures and atua. The illustrations will delight your ākonga.
Readability level: year 5/6
Access Google ebook, The Rage of Mataho (our local giant)
Access Google ebook, The Fiery sisters (Geothermal shapeshifters)
Kāwharu te tipua He mea tito nā Ngāti Whātua
Koinei ētahi kohinga kōrero tuku iho o Ngāti Whātua mō te tupuna rangatira, mō Kāwharu, Kāwharu te Tupua, Kāwharu te Kaingārahu, Kāwharu te Toa Taumata Rau!
Here are some traditional stories collected to our local histories passed down by Ngāti Whātua about the ancestral chief, about Kāwharu, Kāwharu the Supernatural Being, Kāwharu the Destroyer/Devourer, Kāwharu the Warrior of Many Victories!"
A retelling of a story of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
A retelling of a story of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
This is a story about Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei's history. This is the first part of three books that looks at the relationship between iwi and the land between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours, over the last 200 years. Part of Te Aho Ngaruhū, a project launched by the Ministry of Education (Māori Medium) to provide New Zealand history with a new approach. Written by Taiaha Hawke and Tamsin Hanly with translations by Taiaha Hawke
He Kohikohinga 9
He Kohikohinga 9
Kei tēnei putanga o He Kohikohinga, he kōrero e pā ana ki ngā pūrākau e pā ana ki te ahunga mai o te waka o Tainui. Whakaurua mai te hononga ki raro iho kia ai Order physical copies of this book from Down the Back of the Chair (MOE93365), or you may be able to find this in the resource room in your kura.
Readability level: year 4/5
Te Wharekura 2 Nā Hirini Mead ngā kōrero
Te Wharekura 2 Nā Hirini Mead ngā kōrero
This resource is no longer in print. You may be able to find it in the resource room in your kura.
This collection recalls some of the traditional narratives of famous Māori ancestors, some from an iwi perspective.
Taumata: Taumata 6, Taumata 7, Taumata 8
Te Taniwha o Whangaparāoa Nā Roka Paora te wāhanga Māori. Nā Cathie Penetito ngā whakaahua me te wahanga Pākekā
A light hearted short story in English and te reo Māori about a local boy, a taniwha, and the events that led to the naming of Whangaparāoa (Cape Runaway).
Taumata: Taumata 3/4
Readability: level 3/4
Te Wharekura 29 - He kōrero mō ngā Hīnaki
Te Wharekura 29 - He kōrero mō ngā Hīnaki
He maha atu ngā momo hīnaki a te Māori. Mahia ai te nuinga o ngā hīnaki mai te mānuka me ngā peka ngawari o te rākau matai. I ēnei rā, he waea-neti kē ngā taputapu mahi hinaki. Ānei ētahi momo hīnaki a ngā tipuna. Ka kite koe kāore e tata atu a tātau hīnaki ki ā rātau.
Ko te mea tuatoru e whakaatu ana i te tīmatanga o tētahi hīnaki korotete. Ko tēnei hīnaki hei pupuri tuna ora ki roto i te wai. He mānuka, he pirita me te peka matai ngā taputapu mahi i tēnei momo hīnaki.
Taumata: 3/4
Afghanistan to Aotearoa (Auckland) Written by Abbas Nazari Illustrations by Laya Mutton-Rogers
The following is a true story. It begins when the character was seven. Although these things happened to his family, the story is not only his. It belongs to many Afghan refugees everywhere, but especially to the people rescued by the Tampa and ended up here in Waitematā.
Link to audio recording of the book
Readability level: year 6 (Lesson Guide: Tāhūrangi - New Zealand Curriculum)
Once a Panther Victor Rodger
This SJSL fictional comic introduces students to the true story of the Polynesian Panthers who were inspired by the Black Panther Party in the United States. Through the story told by their Uncle the characters in this story learn about the history of the Polynesian Panthers
Link to audio recording of the book
Readability level: year 6
Kupe and the Giant Wheke by Steph Matuku (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Ati Awa)
Beautiful oral history of Kupe and his discovery of Aotearoa while pursuing a giant wheke (octopus) across the Pacific. As he chased the creature around Aotearoa, Kupe explored the new land and named many places.
School Journal Level 2 May 2020
A New home for Mokomoko
When a class from Westmere School find out that mokomoko (skinks) are a protected species, they decide to build a mokomoko refuge. They recount desricbes the process and provides information about mokomoko and their survival needs.
Year 3: Junior Journal No. 43 : 2011 18-25
Blue Fish on the footpath
The children of Westmere School have an unusual job helping Auckland regional Authority to tell people about storm water drains and the dangers that these drains can create for the fish in Waitematā Harbour.
Year 4 Part 2 No 2 1992 31-35
Bean Rock by WERRY, Philippa
An article about John Pule: Artist of the Pacific Bean Rock Lighthouse, which sits on rocks at the entrance to Waitematā Harbour.
Year 6 : Part 03 No. 03 : 2009 : 8-15
John Pule: Artist of the Pacific by O'BRIEN, Greg
This article profiles the Auckland artist John Pule and explores the preoccupations in his work.
https://gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/artists/221-john-pule/
https://bowengalleries.nz/gregory-obrien-john-pule-prints/#
Year 8 : Level 4 Oct : 2012 : 2-9
Keeping Our Stories Alive by Lana Lp[eso & Grace Teuila Evelyn Iwashita-Taylor
Keeping Our Stories Alive by Lana Lp[eso & Grace Teuila Evelyn Iwashita-Taylor
This book explores Samoan tatau in two parts: the first part is an interview with tattooist Tyla Vaeau and the second is a comic that retells how tatau came to Sāmoa. The interview with Tyla explores her Samoan culture, how she became a tufuga tā masini (electric tattoo artist), the process and practice of tattooing, and the significance of being a woman working with tatau.
The second text is a comic which retells the origin story of how tatau – and in particular the malu – came to Sāmoa through Tilafaigā and Taemā. The book links to the article “For the Ancestors”, published in School Journal, Level 3, November 2019, which recounts one woman’s experience of receiving her malu.
Readability Level: Year 5
My grandfather and the Auckland Harbour Bridge
by LASENBY, Jack
When Grandfather was a young man, he helped to build the bridge. Now he and his grandchild look back on that time and are proud of what he did.
Year 3 : Part 01 No. 5 : 1991 : Pgs 28-31
Nas and the crab by RIVERS, Shane
Nas is excited. It's been three months since his parents left for Auckland to look for a house. Now Nas and his sisters are nearly through customs at Auckland Airport, where they will finally join their parents and start a new life.
Year 5 : Part 02 No. 2: 1998 : Pgs 22-27
White Sunday by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa
This factual recount contains a glossary of Samoan terms and extra information about White Sunday at the end of the book. This book is also available in five Pacific languages in the Tupu series.
Series: Ready to Read Colour Wheel
Colour wheel level: Turquoise
I am Alice by WERRY, Philippa
Alice is a tunnel-boring machine used to build two tunnels for Auckland’s Western Ring motorway. Hear about the experience from Alice herself as she provides a first person account of the impact of new technology on our land and infrastructures.
Fleet of Foot by Paula Morris
A story about a Maori family that moves to Auckland in search of work and
opportunity, and the subtle consequences of the move.
Year 7 : L4 May : 2021 : 30-35
Kei te Tāone Nui - Māori and the City 1945-1970 by Samuel Denny, Caitlin Moffat-Young, and Aroha Harris
A rich text abou the post-Second-World-War era in Aotearoa New Zealand saw one of the fastest rates of urban migration in the world, with Māori migrating to cities in large fleets.
Year 7 : L4 May : 2021 : 35 -43
Water Worries by McMILLAN, Rachael
“Water Worries” combines explanations and persuasive arguments in a report that describes the serious water issues we face in Auckland and New Zealand as a whole! The addition of a short procedural text tells how to make a water harvester at home. The text headings support readers to navigate information about the water cycle and the reasons for concern, and the use of everyday examples helps to make the message clear: we all need to worry about water. The article has a strong theme of conservation of natural resources and the need for individuals to take action to make a difference.
Year 6 : Level 3 Apr : 2012 : 38-48
Settling in - Connected 2023 Level 2
Settling in - Connected 2023 Level 2
The three texts, Namesake, Keeping culture alive and The Shopkeeper who stood up for Indian New Zealanders in this Connected resource explore themes of diversity, racism, and social cohesion through the stories of Indian New Zealanders. It focuses on the experiences of new migrants and the agency and actions they have taken to seek equitable treatment.
The concepts that students at this curriculum level may not be able to fully understand. What matters at this stage is that students begin to develop an understanding that they can grow over time.
Readability Level: Year 4
Readability Level: Year 5
Connected 2022 Level 3 – Ka ora kāinga rua - A new beginning
This Level 3 Connected resource explores themes of identity, migration, whakapapa, early settlements in Aotearoa New Zealand, and archaeology. It focuses on the reasons Moriori left Hawaiki (told from Moriori trust (, the landing sites of the waka Te Arawa in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the thriving early settlement established.
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