Purakau
Pūrākau – The Stories That Shape Us
Pūrākau are traditional Māori narratives that carry the wisdom, values, and history of our tūpuna. More than just stories, they are vessels of mātauranga Māori—teaching us about the natural world, whakapapa, tikanga, and our responsibilities as kaitiaki. Passed down through generations, pūrākau connect us to our whenua, our atua, and to each other, guiding our identity and the way we live today.
By sharing and preserving pūrākau, we keep our culture alive and ensure that the voices of our ancestors continue to inspire future generations.
TekoTeko
Tekoteko sit atop posts – several of which are along the Peketā palisade to act as markers of significant places to Ngāti Kurī. Each pouwhenua stands on a plinth two metres high with their own height of about two metres making formidable additions to the landscape. The nine tekoteko are less imposing in size, but have no less kōrero to share about the tūpuna they each represent. Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura have chosen not to make their stories public to protect the whakapapa and stories that are embedded within them.
Erasure of mana whenua from this landscape has never been possible, much as the might of colonialism has tried. This mahi toi is very much a piece of that enduring presence; to hold and stay fast to the whenua. It asks for reflection on the place Ngāti Kurī, and indeed the wider tribe Ngāi Tahu, are in now.
