Healing Through Hākari: First Hautapu Held at Takapūneke in Nearly Two Centuries

In a significant milestone for the hapū of Ōnuku and the iwi of Ngāi Tahu, the first hautapu ceremony in nearly two centuries was held at Takapūneke Reserve on Friday, July 10, 2026. Roughly 150 people gathered at the Akaroa site at dawn to celebrate Matariki, marking a profound moment of reclamation and spiritual healing for the historic coastal land. Keefe Robinson-Gore, a member of the Ōnuku Runanga co-governance group, told RNZ’s Māpuna that the ceremony was a way to honour the dead and set intentions for the upcoming year. The event follows the recent installation of nine Matariki pou markers and a main pou named 'Puaka Tātai Rau o Irakehu,' designed by master carver Fayne Robertson as part of a wider redevelopment of the reserve. The history of Takapūneke is deeply tied to the 1830 'Elizabeth Affair,' a massacre involving Ngati Toa rangatira Te Rauparaha and a British merchant ship. Robinson-Gore noted that while previous generations were often told never to step on the land due to its traumatic history, the current redevelopment seeks to 'unpick' that past and create a space for reflection and wānanga. Historically, the site served as a vital trading post where Māori traded harakeke (flax) cordage with European sailors. The restoration of Takapūneke has been a multi-generational effort, overcoming previous challenges such as the site being used as a rubbish dump and being earmarked for subdivision. Robinson-Gore said the community is now focused on healing the taiao (environment) and ensuring the next generation can see themselves reflected in the landscape. By returning to the whenua, the hapū aims to foster a wholesome understanding of their identity and a more fulsome relationship with their ancestral home.