The title of this painting is based on the title of a map by James Herd of the Ship Rosanna in 1826.  Wangenueatera is Herd’s rendering of ‘Te Whanganui-a-Tara’ –‘The Great Harbour of Tara’ the original name of Wellington by Maori.
The red numbers are Herds surveying marks from the original map.

The Islands (top right): Matiu Island – Sommes, Makaro Island – Ward and Mana Island.

White Ships: The ‘Waka’ with triangle sail is based on the Out Rigger Canoes used by Polynesian Explorers for long distance travel.  The sailing ship is the Endeavour.

Kowhaiwhai: Mangotipi or Hammerhead shark

Background Script:  Lists the names, ages & professions of the people aboard the first immigrant ships to enter Wellington Harbour.

Poneke: Transliteration by the Maori of Port Nicholson.

Street map: Based on an ‘Infomap’ I found in my room when I moved in.  The map was compiled in 1988 and showed coordinates in metres in terms of the Geodetic Datum 1949.

Pre European Map: Based on a map from ‘The Pioneers of Port Nicholson’ by David McGill

Background Images:  From Alexander Turnbull Library 1826 – 1950’s

History of Auckland

Maori people are first thought to have settled in the Auckland region approx. 650 years ago. Auckland was a highly sought after area due to its rich and fertile land. The name given by the early Maori for the area, was Tamaki’, meaning ‘battle’

The volcanic cones that are dotted all over Auckland became natural sites for pas, or fortified Maori settlements. Several of the best known lookout areas in Auckland, such as Mount Eden and One Tree Hill, bear the traces of these pas.

How the city of Auckland was created:

Ngati Whatua of Orakei are a hapu of the Ngati Whatua tribe, which is based at Kaipara. They lived in the Auckland area for many hundreds of years. Their land was rich and fertile, an economic and spiritual resource for the hapu which was the basis of their identity. The whole hapu owned the land communally and they worked it together, tending crops and gathering food from the surrounding coastline and countryside. The tribal base or papakainga was at Okahu Bay.

The Founding of Auckland

In 1840, Ngati Whatua of Orakei invited English settlers to share the land with them. Te Kawau, their paramount chief, wanted to offer hospitality, but he also wanted to gain some security against other tribes, especially the northern tribes which had muskets.  On the 20^th of March, Te Kawau and other chiefs of Ngati Whatua of Orakei signed the Treaty of Waitangi. By September, the British flagstaff was raised at a point which is now the top of Queen Street, and Auckland became the capital of New Zealand.

Ngati Whatua of Orakei agreed to hand over approximately 3000 acres of land for a township to be established. In the following years Ngati Whatua defended Auckland settlement many times against invading tribes.

Today, Ngati Whatua o Orakei has control and ownership of the marae and consequently continues to resurrect, reactivate and articulate the customs, language and cultural heritage particular to the hapu.  The marae is the only ancestral marae on the central Tamaki isthmus and continues to exercise the customary obligations to host and welcome national and international visitors to Tamaki Makaurau.

Images:

Photo of Kikopiri Meeting House 1910. Huia is written across the middle of the union jack.

Kowhaiwhai designs from inside of Kikopiri Meeting House.

Kikopiri Meeting House before restoration in 1983.

Kikopiri Meeting House, taken between 1895 – 1906

Images 1 & 2 from ‘Horowhenua: its Maori place-names & their Topographic & historical background’

Ohau sign on left-hand side of road at the beginning of Muhunoa West Road.  The road Kikopiri Marae is on.

Photo of Kapiti Island I took in early 2006 on my way over to Kikopiri Marae

Additional Image Credits:

Alexander Turnbull Library
N.Z. Historic Places Trust
Alexander Percy Godber
Leslie Adkin

United Tribes Ensign: 20th March 1834: 25 Chiefs from the Far North gathered at Waitangi to choose a flag to represent New Zealand. The preferred design received 12 out of the 25 votes. Busby declared the chosen flag the national flag of New Zealand and had it hoisted on a central flagpole, accompanied by a 21 gun salute from HMS Alligator.
The middle flag On the painting: I created a triangle pennant, it includes the cross, star and cresent of which were often represented on historical Maori pennants. The regular use of these symbols shows the influence the missionaries and introduced faith had on the Maori culture.
The New Zealand Red Ensign: New Zealand Government ships must fly the New Zealand Flag. Other New Zealand ships may fly the New Zealand Flag, the New Zealand Red Ensign, or any flag authorised by either the Sovereign or the Governor-General. It has been based on the Red Ensign usually flown by merchant ships registered in the United Kingdom.

Included on this painting is the list of goods exchanged for the Wellington region, an image of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the driving force behind much of the early colonisation of New Zealand and various maps of Wellington before the building ever began.

Wellington motto:

Suprema A Situ – Supreme by Position

“The settlers that have located themselves at Port Nicholson under the New Zealand Association have formed themselves into a corporation and having elected themselves a council, have appointed Colonel Wakefield President, and have proceeded to enact laws and appoint magistrates. This intelligence demanded my immediate attention. Without an hour’s delay I called on the Commanding Officer of the troops to detach 30 men to Port Nicholson, and appointed the acting Colonial Secretary, W.Shortland J.P., in whose firmness and discretion I have the utmost reliance, supported by Lieutenant H.D. SmartJ.P., of the 28th Regiment, commanding the mounted police with five of his men who are constables, to proceed with the detachment, for the conveyance of which I have chartered the barque Integrity. According to my opinion, unaided by legal advice, the proceedings of the Association at Port Nicholson amount to High Treason.” (Lieutenant Governor Hobson 1840)

Wellington Coat of Arms

Arms: Quarterly Gules and Azure, a Cross Or between; In the first quarter a Fleece Or; in the second quarter on Water barry wavy proper in base a Lymphad sail furled pennon and flags flying Argent; in the third quarter a Garb Or; in the fourth quarter five Plates in Saltire Argent.

Crest: On a Mural Crown Argent a Dolphin Naiant Azure, Mantled Gules.

Supporters: On the dexter side a Lion gorged with a Collar and Chain reflexed over the back Or, and on the sinister side a Moa proper.

Motto: Suprema a Situ (supreme by position).

Notes:

1. Name places on map of Wellington based on information from Alexander Turnbull Library.

2. Sketches done on site but I have based the style on that of the earliest drawings done by employees of the New Zealand Company.

3. The list of ‘exchanged goods’ is reproduced behind the words ‘Port Nicholson ’ along the top of the painting.

There was once a great lake of which was the home of two great Taniwha. Ngake and Whataitai. Ngake felt trapped and decided to break through the hills and rocks out into the great ocean.  Ngake swam over to the Northern part and wound himself up tight like a spring, then with all his force flew through the water gaining speed as he went until he crashed wildly through the rocks and found himself beyond the lake in the Raukawa Moana. He swam off and was never seen again.  Whataitai decided to swim out into the great ocean as well and began to make his way towards the gap the Ngake created.  The lake had already started draining off and by the time Whataitai made it to the new entrance he was stranded.  Whataitai was there for generations. An earthquake raised his body above the water and left him in the sun drying out. His body became known as Hataitai.

Note:

This story is on the painting twice. 1^st Behind the images of Ngake & Whataitai on the left. 2^nd Handwritten script on the right.

There was once a great lake of which was the home of two great Taniwha. Ngake and Whataitai. Ngake felt trapped and decided to break through the hills and rocks out into the great ocean.  Ngake swam over to the Northern part and wound himself up tight like a spring, then with all his force flew through the water gaining speed as he went until he crashed wildly through the rocks and found himself beyond the lake in the Raukawa Moana. He swam off and was never seen again.  Whataitai decided to swim out into the great ocean as well and began to make his way towards the gap the Ngake created.  The lake had already started draining off and by the time Whataitai made it to the new entrance he was stranded.  Whataitai was there for generations. An earthquake raised his body above the water and left him in the sun drying out. His body became known as Hataitai.

Images:

Half of the Wellington map is pre colonization, the other half is current.

Kowhaiwhai: Mangotipi (from Mataatua, Tuhoe), represents the white pointer shark.

Passages on the painting

The Admiralty’s sealed orders directed Lieutenant Cook to proceed to Tahiti “to observe the passage of the planet Venus over the Disc of the Sun on the 3^rd of June 1769…..” “When this service is perform’d, you are to put to Sea without Loss of Time, and carry onto execution the additional Instructions contained in the enclosed Sealed Packet.”

Additional Instructions: “You are therefore in Pursuance of His Majesty’s Pleasure hereby requir’d and directed to put to sea with the Bark you command so soon as the Observation of the Transit of the Planet Venus shall be finished and observe the following Instructions . You are to proceed to the southward in order to make discovery of the Continent above-mentioned until you arrive in the Latitude of 40°, unless you sooner fall in with it. But not having discover’d it or any Evident signs of it in that Run, you are to proceed in search of it to the Westward between the Latitude before mentioned and the Latitude of 35°until you discover it , or fall in with the Eastern side of the Land discover’d by Tasman and now called New Zeland.”

The current New Zealand flags origins date back to 1902. The Imperial Colonial Naval Defense Act of 1865 ruled that all ships owned by a colonial government must fly the Blue Ensign with the badge of the colony on it. At this point in time New Zealand didn’t yet have an official badge or emblem and had been flying the classic Blue Ensign.

The original design included the abbreviation NZ in red letters with a white outline.

The new Bill was passed by the House on 5 November 1901. There had also been a brief debate as to whether the Southern Cross should have the 5 stars ag) but the idea didn’t stick. On the 24^th of March 1902 His Majesty the King approved the act and a proclamation by His Excellency the Governor was published in the New Zealand Gazette on the 12^th of June 1902.

“Note: The New Zealand Flag should never be flown in a dilapidated condition.

Notes:

The map used on the painting was based on the French map of New Zealand created in 1842 from information provided by M.Dumont D’Urville

• 13 December, the ‘St. Jean Baptise’ rounds Cape Marie Van Diemen and passes the Endeavour with neither Ship sighting the other due to bad weather conditions.

• 12 July 1772, the French bury a bottle at Waipoa, on Moturua Island. Within the bottle were enclos’d the arms of France and a formal statement taking possession of the whole country; with the name of ‘France Australe’

• 11:30am, 12 December 1769, The ‘St Jean Baptise’ sighted the Coastline of New Zealand just south of the Hokianga Harbour.

• The blue flag design, top centre is the old Royal Flag of France.

• Images of the trees, centre, is based on the figurative style of painting that the Maori developed during colonization.

Images:

1. New Zealand Map: Based on John Arrowsmith’s map from 1841
2. Public Dinner notice printed by the ‘New Zealand Gazette’ 1840
3. Clayton, Matthew Thomas 1831-1922: Settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company. Historical gathering of pioneer ships in Port Nicholson, March 8, 1840; Auckland, Wilson & Horton, 1899
4. Swainson, William 1789-1855: Hutts [sic] of the first settlers Petoni Beach.
5. Smith, William Mein 1799-1869: The harbour of Port Nicholson and the town of Wellington (sketched in the middle of the year 1842).
6. Township of Petone [map]. Reference number: MapColl–832.4796gbbd/[ca.1873]/Acc.36471
7. Artist unknown: William Wakefield wearing the habilments of the first society of Europe. Sketched in the court of the King’s Bench upon being brought up from Lancaster Castle.
8. Artist unknown: Edward Jerningham Wakefield [ca 1850].
9. New Zealand Company: A proposed plan of the city of Wellington in the first settlement in New Zealand. Designed by Samuel Cobham, Newgate Street, [London].
10. Brees, Samuel Charles: Barrett’s Hotel, Wellington Drawn by S C Brees ; engraved by Henry Melville [London, 1847].
11. Wivell, Abraham 1786-1849: Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Esq. Engraved by B Holl from a drawing by A Wivell, 1823. London, 1826.

Maori History

New Zealand was named by the Maori when they arrived “Aotearoa” two translations of this are “Land of the long white cloud” as the mountain ranges were covered in snow.  The second is “Land of the long daylight”. In the tropics there is no twilight and the Polynesians would have found this surprising when they arrived.

Images:

1. Map: Based on John Arrowsmith’s map from 1881.
2. Images of up side down heads on left of painting: Image of Queen Victoria from the Penny Red stamp and a Maori by Sydney Parkinson on Cook’s first voyage to New Zealand.
3. The United Tribes of New Zealand Flag
4. The Union Jack
5. Mesnard, Theodore Romuald Georges: Cases du paha de Kororareka/Mesnard delt; lithe par Blanchard. Paris, Thierry freres.
6. McDonald, James Ingram: Captain William Hobson
7. Richmond, George: George Augustus Selwyn, D. D., Lord Bishop of New Zealand. Engraved by Samuel Cousins; painted by George Richmond. Rev. Edward Coleridge
8. King, Marcus: The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, February 6th, 1840.

Images:

Map: The title and some of the information on the original map is what is written on the left hand side of the painting including the date it was created.

Fleur-de-lis: The design can be found in many places long before heraldic times, as far back as Mesopotamia. It is essentially a stylized flower, and served as a decorative element and became associated over time with royalty, especially in the High Middle Ages.

Flags:

1) United Tribes of New Zealand.
2) British Union Jack
3) Modern French Flag

Kowhaiwhai Design: Patiki or flounder:s ymbol of hospitality from the Pare Hauraki area.

Handwriting:
13 December, the ‘St. Jean Baptise’ rounds Cape Marie Van Diemen and passes the Endeavour with neither Ship sighting the other due to bad weather conditions.

12 July 1772, the French bury a bottle at Waipoa, on Moturua Island. Within the bottle were enclos’d the arms of France and a formal statement taking possession of the whole country; with the name of ‘France Australe’

11:30am, 12 December 1769, The ‘St Jean Baptise’ sighted the Coastline of New Zealand just south of the Hokianga Harbour.

Images:    

• ‘ The Head of a New Zealander, with a comb in his hair, an ornament of green stone in his ear and another of a fish’s tooth around his neck’ 1769

• ‘Captain James Cook. [Holland, Nathaniel Dance (Sir)] 1734-1811: James Cook. Engraved by H B Hall & Sons. New York [ca 1780] 

Map:

Based on a Chart from original Surveys by Thomas Mc Donnell.Lieut. R.N. 1800’s

Latitude & Longitude for the South Island are the same as the original map.

Kowhaiwhai: Mangotipi or Hammerhead Shark

Handwritten Script: The beginning of the list of waka (canoes) that settled in New Zealand

Background Script: 

The New Zealand Company

There were over 800 people on the first 5 ships that left England before it was even known where the settlement was going to be, even without knowing whether the sites had been purchased.

Within 3 months all 5 ships and the Bolton had arrived in New Zealand. The Maori were astonished and asked whether  the whole tribe of England had come?

The New Zealand flag:

The New Zealand Flag is a symbol of the realm, government and people of New Zealand. Its royal blue background is reminiscent of the sea surrounding us. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasise this country’s location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Flag gives recognition to the fact that New Zealand was once a British colony and dominion.

My Flag:

Kowhaiwhai: Patiki or Flounder, a symbol of hospitality.

Script (white outline): A list of all the Maori tribes.

Stars: Tukutuku design, Purapura Whetu meaning ‘stars in heaven’

Blue: North East coast, this is where it is believed that Kupe (Polynesian explorer) first sighted (Aotearoa) land with the long white cloud hovering above it.

Kupe’s Discovery of Aotearoa

It was the great Polynesian navigator Kupe who discovered Aotearoa. Kupe lived in Hawaiiki, mythical ancestral homeland of the Maori.

Kingitanga or Kingitanga

Kingitanga (The King Movement): “The administrative arm which controls and directs things of the physical world”   (Te Wherowhero)

Kingitanga ( Spiritual Lore):    “The natural Spiritual lore of Whakapapa that drives all things Maori in securing the ancient sacred knowledge” (Te Wherowhero)

Background Script:

The King movement (Te Kingitanga) began in the 1850s in an attempt to stop the sale of land and promote Maori authority in New Zealand. Tribes from all over the country, including the South Island, debated who should be offered the kingship.

Image:  ‘Te Werowero, or Potatau the principal chief of all Waikato’. George French Angas delt & lith. Plate 44. 1847.

The Three Flags: (top left) Were Te Wherowhero’s for his appointment as King in 1857.  Each new monarch has their own flag drawn up for use at Turangawaewae Marae and for visiting other Marae..Kingi (King), Niu Tireni (New Zealand).

Kowhaiwhai Design: Patiki (flounder) is a symbol of hospitality.

From Pare Hauraki (Maori Monarchs home area)

Kings Marae: Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia

Based a map made by an unknown member or Cooks crew in 1770.

The image in the centre is the Endeavour.

Image of Cook:  By William Hodges 1777 (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Flag: British Red Ensign or “Red Duster” is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. It is currently used as the civil ensign of the United Kingdom.

Script Behind Map:

The Admiralty’s sealed orders directed Lieutenant Cook to proceed to Tahiti “to observe the passage of the planet Venus over the Disc of the Sun on the 3^rd of June 1769…..” “When this service is perform’d, you are to put to Sea without Loss of Time, and carry onto execution the additional Instructions contained in the inclosed Sealed Packet.”

Script behind the floor plan is the full list of men aboard the Endeavour on her first voyage to New Zealand.

Note: There are also parts of Kupe’s story, the first Polynesian Explorer to find and navigate the coast of New Zealand.

Red Kowhaiwhai design: ‘Ngaru’ From Ngati Kahungunu represents the cutting of the waves as the waka moved through the water.

New Zealand was discovered many times by  many different people.

Kupe discovers Aotearoa:

Although Maui fished up the North and South Islands, it was the great Polynesian navigator Kupe who discovered them. Kupe lived in Hawaiiki, mythical ancestral homeland of the Maori. In Hawaiiki lived a canoe maker by the name of Toto.

Patiki: (From Pare Hauraki) Represents the Flounder and is a symbol of hospitality.

Puhoro: (From Te Arawa) Represents speed, swiftness & agility.

Kaperua: (From the Tai Rawhiti) Represents things being doubled.