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This page features extracts from a recording of Donald Couch speaking about Rāpaki Marae.

Donald Couch grew up at Rāpaki. He later lived in Canada for 30 years before returning to Rāpaki in the 1990s. He was elected as the Rāpaki representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 1998. He is a Senior Lecturer in Māori Resource Management, the chair of the Ngāi Tahu Mātauranga Trust, a trustee of the Ngāi Tahu Ancillary Claims Trust and a trustee of the Rāpaki Taukahara Trust.

Rāpaki

Rāpaki is a small settlement on the winding inner eastern shoreline of Whakaraupō (Lyttelton Harbour). From the beach of its wide shallow bay there is a view across the blue grey water to Otamahua (Quail Island) and westward toward the mudflats at the head of the harbour. Rāpaki is home to one of the five Papatipu Rūnanga of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc.

Te Rāpaki o Rakiwhakaputa

The name ‘Rāpaki’ recalls the actions of the chief Te Rakiwhakaputa who threw down his rāpaki (waist mat) on the shores of Whakaraupō thus claiming the land for Ngāi Tahu. The full name of the bay is Te Rāpaki o Te Rakiwhakaputa. After securing Rāpaki as Ngāi Tahu territory, Te Rakiwhakaputa moved on to claim other areas and left his son Te Wheke to establish the settlement.

When the Canterbury Association’s representative Captain Joseph Thomas arrived at Whakaraupō in the 1840s his favoured position for establishment of a port was Rāpaki. Rāpaki Māori preferred to maintain their land for themselves so the port was established at nearby Lyttlelton.

Te Poho o Tamatea and Other Landmarks

Many important landmarks and place names around Whakaraupō recall stories of exploits, adventures and battles of Ngāi Tahu and earlier Ngāti Māmoe ancestors. Some of these include, Otamahua, Omawete, O Kete Upoko, O Rongo Mai, Ohinehou, Ohinetahi and Tauhinukorokio. The maunga that overlooks Rāpaki is Te Poho o Tamatea (the breast of Tamatea) and is named after the explorer Tamatea Pokai Whenua who is said to have climbed this peak to recite a karakia asking a tohunga to send fire to warm his people. Tamatea Pokai Whenua is also recalled in the Māori name for the Port Hills, Ka Kohatu Whakarekareka o Tamatea Pokai Whenua meaning, ‘the smouldering boulders of Tamatea Pokai Whenua’.

Kai Moana

The proximity of the settlement to the sea is a defining characteristic of Rāpaki. Kai moana and the gathering of it have therefore always played an important role. Manuhiri visiting Rāpaki and other settlements in Whakaraupō would have looked forward to a hākari of local kai moana which was once abundant in the area. The traditional fish associated with Whakaraupō is pioke (dried rig). Today the stocks of kai moana are greatly reduced but Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc. is working to re establish traditional fisheries. Rāpaki became the site of the world’s first Mātaitai reserve in 1998. Mātaitai reserve status means that Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc. has the mandate to manage customary fishing resources at Rāpaki.

Te Wheke

The Rūnaka Hall is named after Te Wheke, the son of Te Rakiwhakaputa. It was built by Rāpaki whānau and opened on 30th December 1901 by the then Minister of Labour, the Hon. W.C.Walker. Visitors were officially welcomed by the head of the Rūnaka, Teone Taare Tikao. Te Wheke has seen many changes and upgrades in its years and has hosted many important guests and Hui. On December 30th, 2001 the centenary celebration of the opening of Te Wheke was held at Rāpaki. Plans are underway to replace Te Wheke in the future with a traditional Whare Whakairo.

Whare Karakia

Through the 1850s the Rāpaki population grew and a Māori Mission was established there. In 1865 the Methodist missionary Te Kōti Te Rato moved to Rāpaki and the Rāpaki community built a church. The church was opened on 4 May 1869 with a multi-denominational service at which hymns were sung in Māori and English. The church has been supported by the Anglican, Presbyterian and Wesleyan ministries and is still used today for occasional services. Centennial celebrations of the church were held in 1969.

Schoolhouse

A schoolhouse opened at Rāpaki in 1878. The school closed for a period but was reopened and operated from 1932 until 1946 when it was forced to close permanently on account of low student numbers. The schoolhouse has since been restored and is used today for meetings and gatherings.

Gallipoli

The Rāpaki jetty opened for use in 1916 and was named Gallipoli in remembrance of local men who fought and died there in WW1.

Rāpaki Today

Marae redevelopment is a major focus for Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke today. A Whare Whakairo (carved meeting house) is planned to replace the ageing Rūnaka Hall, Te Wheke. Other major long term projects include work on the restoration of the harbour, restoration of the local stream and regeneration of native bush in the area. Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke also works to ensure that a tangata whenua perspective is brought to wider community issues and projects within their rohe.

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Links

• Te Hapū o Ngati Wheke, Rāpaki contact details
• Photograph of Te Wheke, Rāpaki , on the day it was opened, 30 December 1901.
• Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc. (Rāpaki)

Sources

• Couch, Donald. Interview by Helen Brown. DAT recording, Donald Couch’s home, Rāpaki, Christchurch, 20 October, 2005.
• Couch, A. Rāpaki Remembered, Te Waihora Press and The Canterbury Maori Studies Association 1987
• Subritzky, R. Te Wheke 1901 2001 A Souvenir Booklet, 2001
• Wilson, J. ‘Rāpaki', Historic Places No 17: 24 - 26 June 1987
• Moffat, A. ‘Rāpaki celebrates centenary in style’, The Press, 2 Jan 2002
• Rapaki Church Centennial, Te Ao Hou,July 1969 No.67, 32 - 36

Further Information

• Morrit, N. ‘New era for Rapaki Marae’, Bay-Harbour News, 11 October 2006, pg. 1, 4.