Matariki History Weekend: audio and images

An account in audio and images of a rich programme on Paekākāriki history for Matariki weekend.

Mark Amery, Bob Zuur and Jude Walcott

June 30, 2025

An historic weekend was held at St Peter’s Hall over Matariki – 20-22 June 2025. Showcasing our early Māori history, highlighting significant people and places, inspiring talks, and information about projects and plans for the whenua.

Produced by the Paekakariki Station Museum. Images: Bob Zuur. Audio: Mark Amery. Text: Jude Walcott.

Diverse community gathering at a cultural event in Paekākāriki, New Zealand, featuring local residents and visitors engaging in storytelling and presentations about the area's history and heritage. — Our programme began with a mihi from the Farrell whanau and Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki acknowledging the loss of kaumatua Karl Farrell. Image: Bob Zuur

Elderly man with white beard and glasses speaking at a public event in Paekākāriki, New Zealand, holding papers and standing next to a microphone, representing local community engagement or storytelling in a scenic coastal town. — Chair of the Station Museum Trust Dave Johnson. Image: Bob Zuur

Kaia Hawkins (Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngā Ruahine, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Pākehā) – began the weekend with a beautiful and engaging Matariki gathering. The audience was invited to reflect, release and realign with the māramatanga of the new year. A time to share. Kaia is an embodiment facilitator, movement artist, and cultural weaver based in Paekākāriki. With a deep commitment to decolonisation, collective wellbeing, and embodied connection, Kaia brings presence and purpose to spaces of remembrance and renewal.
Image: Bob Zuur

On Friday Miria Pōmare (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Mutunga, Rongomaiwahine, Rongowhakaata) gave a deeply thoughtful and exceptional history presentation of the region, the people, the heke from Kawhia and much more. Miria has a sound knowledge of Māori cultural issues, having been involved in iwi activities all her life. She is also experienced in the role of kaitiaki (guardian) – her whānau inherited responsibility for an extensive collection of taonga, both Māori and European (some she brought with her, as below). Miria has a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii. She has considerable experience in local government issues, having held various iwi representative roles and been a Hearing Commissioner in the resource consent process. She has worked in the field of Treaty of Waitangi claims for more than a decade.
You can hear her extensive talk below – including the story of Kahe Te Rau-o-te-rangi and the heke from Kawhia. Image: Boh Zuur.

Taonga held by the Pōmare whanau on display. Image: Mark Amery

The last talk on Friday was from Queen Elizabeth Park park rangers John Tesoriero and Jordan Clear. An opportunity to hear about some projects happening in the park and what is planned for the future. Along with some very good questions from our engaged local audience – many of whom are involved in local organisations caring for the land like the Whareroa Guardians.

History exhibit display of Māori and Pacific Islander leaders in Paekākāriki, showcasing local heritage and community history, with informative panels and historical photographs.

Haumia and Ngāti Toa ancestry. Image courtesy of Thane Maxwell.

On Saturday Thane Maxwell started the sessions with a presentation on the early history of the region. Thane teaches history at Kapiti College and lives in Paekākāriki with his family. He grew up in Dunedin in a pakeha family of academics. He studied History at the University of Otago and then did an MA in African History at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He spent 15 years in UK, working in a wide range of jobs before becoming a teacher. Thane feels privileged to have learnt some of the local stories from Karl Farrell and others and now share them with his akonga at school.

Kevin Jones (passed away, 2023) and published in his book 'Ngā Tohuwhenua Mai Te Rangi: A New Zealand Archaeology in Aerial Photographs', 1994, Victoria University Press, p.211 — Kevin Jones photograph, in ‘Ngā Tohuwhenua Mai Te Rangi: A New Zealand Archaeology in Aerial Photographs’, 1994, Victoria University Press, p.211

Andy Dodd spoke about archaeology in Paekākāriki. He is a consultant archaeologist based in the village and is a graduate from Otago University. His previous employment has been as an archaeologist with the Department of Conservation in Auckland and Heritage New Zealand in Wellington. He has undertaken archaeological work throughout New Zealand from the Kermadecs, to the Chathams and Stewart Island. He also completed post graduate training in underwater archaeology at Flinders University in Adelaide and trained as a commercial diver in Huntly, working on underwater archaeology projects in Australia and New Zealand including regional archaeological inventories for Wellington and Taranaki regional council. His business Subsurface Ltd was set up in 2011 and clients include government departments, councils and private enterprises. He now works predominantly in the Wellington region, and his favourite projects are the ones in Queen Elizabeth Park, because he can go home for morning tea.

A man playing a traditional Māori taonga pūoro (wooden flute) at an indoor cultural event, showcasing Māori music and heritage in Paekākāriki, New Zealand. — A special performance from local Apirana Taylor was a wonderful and special way to end to Saturday’s programme. Apirana is an internationally published Māori poet, storyteller, playwright, novelist, actor, musician, and painter. With inspiration from his Māori culture, he is also a storyteller of Māori myths and legends. He uses dance, movement, and string games as a part of his storytelling technique, and often plays his own music to accompany the stories, on guitar, traditional nose flutes, and a variety of percussion instruments. In 2024 he was awarded a Creative New Zealand Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry.
Image: Bob Zuur

Waka Wainui Stream 2006 land survey map display at Paekākāriki heritage exhibition, showcasing historic land parcels and boundaries in New Zealand. — A section of what is believed to be a late 17th century waka, found at the Wainui stream river mouth in 2006 by local resident Aurelian Campbell. Displayed in Paekākāriki for the first time since the discovery. The piece of waka resembled driftwood sticking out of the sand but fortunately Aurelian recognised its significance and contacted the Historic Places Trust. “It was exciting to have found this part of the waka after it had been in the stream for so long and I’m very happy it came back to the village for a visit.”
Courtesy of Te Papa. Image: Bob Zuur.

A fascinating talk from Jenny Rowan and Tina Pope on Sunday afternoon, updating the audience about the Wainuiwhenua project – a community-led group working with local iwi to achieve the best future uses of surplus Transmission Gully land for the Kāpiti District. The information will be updated on this website in due course, in the meantime, you can listen to the talk above and read this consultation document from 2019.
Jenny has over 30 years’ experience in local, district-wide and regional government – and was our two-term Mayor of Kapiti District from 2007 to 2013. As Commissioner in the Environment Court for 16 years, Jenny was involved in hearings and writing decisions for over 200 court cases in a wide range of areas – including heritage and environmental protection, marine farming and state highway development.

Tina Pope is an active member of the Paekākāriki community, currently co-chair of the Housing Trust and previously Deputy Chair of the Community Board, Chair of the School Board of Trustees, founding member of the Orchard and Gardens Group, and member of the Wainuiwhenua Working Group. She has a law degree and has worked in the justice and social housing sectors in Aotearoa and the Pacific for four decades.

The last event of the weekend was hosted by storyteller and improv teacher Jane Cherry – accompanied by local musician Gilbert Haisman on piano. Jane grew up in Paekākāriki and returned to the village eight years ago. She teaches applied improvisation and storytelling to older adults. She holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and is interested in community stories, oral histories, and writes autobiographical fiction.

Lots of stories shared, and Gilbert got everyone up with some very funny dancing games that produced much laughter – the perfect way to end a most memorable weekend. Thank you all for coming along, listening and learning and sharing – making the weekend a huge success.