Date:  11 December 2025

Ōtūwharekai, a network of wetlands near the Hakatere heritage site, was a food gathering place used for special occasions by ancient iwi, Rapuwai, Waitaha and Kāti Māmoe peoples, going back hundreds of years. For mana whenua Ōtūwharekai is a place of huge significance, rich with an interconnected network of trails used by tūpuna (ancestors).

It’s also a significant site for European settlers who farmed there. The historic Hakatere buildings were once at the heart of high-country life in the Ashburton Gorge. The buildings includes a stone cottage built in 1862 which may be the oldest building in mid-Canterbury.

Now the site has been officially opened as a Tohu Whenua, part of a growing nationwide network of designated sites chosen to tell the stories of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history.

Department of Conservation Geraldine-based Operations Manager Tony Preston says the Ōtūwharekai/Hakatere launch event last week represented a coming together of different groups to bring the stories from mana whenua tūpuna to life and as well as the rich history of high-country pastoral farming in the 19th century.

“When I first came in here, I could see the high-country story told here in the buildings, but there was no presence for Ngāi Tahu and Arowhenua. We want to bring those stories to life and take visitors on a journey. I’m so stoked at how this event has brought everyone together and when we put in a bid to have it recognised in the Tohu Whenua programme, that was my aim, to come together and create a meaningful shared history.

“This is where our mahi really starts as we work out, in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, how to tell the stories and hopefully tap into some funding for this as part of the IVL (International Visitors Levy) allocation for Tohu Whenua sites. We see carloads and busloads of people going past Hakatere, unaware of its significance, so hopefully now they’ll stop. People are very interested in the history of a place as well as the natural splendour – we call it ‘heritage naturing’,” Tony says.

Awatea Edwin, from Kāti Huirapa of Arowhenua, says Ngāi Tahu is kind of like the baby brother of all the other iwi that came before and it’s important to remember those older stories.

“Our idea is bringing our peoples back together, to build relationships. Wherever you’re standing you see things differently and it’s important for visitors to this site to get the full picture of what life in this area was like,” he says.

Nicola Jackson from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga wants visitors to Tohu Whenua sites across Aotearoa to walk away with a rich understanding of the area and the people who lived there. Visitors can scan a QR code on a wooden post at each site, and access resources to learn about the history connected to each place.

“We want people to learn new things when they visit these places, not just look at the buildings and the landscape but gain knowledge and appreciation of peoples’ experiences,” she says.

John Greenslade from the Hakatere Heritage Trust agrees and says it’s incredibly important to protect and preserve the living history of the area. The trust spent a lot of money rebuilding the historic stone cottage built in 1862 after some of it came down in the Canterbury earthquakes.

“Within our cultures, there are many people who hold the stories and the histories, and it’s about listening and sharing the knowledge,” John says.

Karl Russell from Arowhenua says his own whānau history goes back 50 generations.

“We came here at different times of the year, we would have whānau from the northern and southern boundaries and from the West Coast. We would meet here for marriages, arranged marriages, chief’s daughters would marry chief’s sons. There was whanaunatanga, whakapapa, learning and all kinds of stuff.

“Ōtūwharekai was the place to go and gather that special kai. It really is a very significant place for us to remember and hear all the stories. It’s a beautiful place to visit, and a fantastic place for a picnic, sharing some kai with whānau just like our tūpuna did.”

The Hakatere heritage buildings and Tohu Whenua post are found at the junction of Ashburton Gorge Road and Heron Road, 23 km west of Mt Somers village.

Further information

Tohu Whenua: landmarks that tell our stories is a tourism programme that promotes significant heritage sites in Aotearoa New Zealand – the places that shaped our country and culture. It is a partnership between Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Department of Conservation with support from Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Te Puni Kōkiri.

Ōtūwharekai Hakatere Heritage is one of eleven sites reaching from Kaikōura to Timaru, showcasing the outstanding heritage visitor experiences in the Waitaha Canterbury region. Learn more and download a brochure at Waitaha Canterbury | Tohu Whenua

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