Ngā Taonga a Tamarau

Long before Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust came into being, our tūpuna walked the lands of Taranaki, carrying stories that shaped who we are today. Those stories were spoken around fires, sung in waiata, and held in the hearts of generations. Over time, they became written records—taonga that trace our journey through challenges, triumphs, and the forging of unity. 

The name itself carries meaning: Tamarau connects us to the story of Rongoueroa and her son Awanui-a-Rangi, ancestor of Te Atiawa. Like the storage pits of old—Rua—we hold these taonga so they remain safe, yet ready to nourish the generations to come. 

Here, whānau can stand among the records that link us to our tūpuna: documents of the Taranaki Claim, Waitangi Tribunal hearings, settlement negotiations, and the formation of Te Kotahitanga. You’ll find waiata and karakia, stories of everyday life, food gathering places, and accounts of wars and haerenga. These are not just papers—they are windows into the lives and decisions that shaped our identity. 

But our archive is not bound by walls. For those far from home, we have a digital space—a doorway you can open from anywhere in the world. An archive only has life if it is used—if whānau come to it, explore it, and carry its kōrero forward. That’s why we’ve built the online catalogue, in te reo Māori with English options, so you can find what speaks to you. On your phone, tablet, or computer, you can access some copies of these taonga, ensuring that distance is not a barrier to connection. 

You may also want to visit some of those taonga that live in Ngā Taonga a Tamarau, a physical archive space created to protect and honour the whakapapa of our iwi. On the fifth floor of Ngāmotu House, in a room designed with care, many of these treasures rest.  

The kupu we use remind us that this is more than storage—it is identity. Concepts like Rua Te Hihiri (still being used) and Rua Te Mahara (treasured and should be kept) guide how we care for collections. Terms drawn from the Raukura—Te Rau Kāuru, Te Rau Tumu, Te Rau Pakiaki—help us organise material like parts of a tree, rooted in our whenua. And access is framed by Noho Mana, reflecting the status of each taonga, ensuring respect for tikanga and mana whenua. 

Ngā Taonga a Tamarau is a living treasure. It holds our past, guides our present, and inspires our future. These taonga only breathe when we use them, share them, and keep the kōrero flowing. 

So come—open the chest of stories. Explore the whakapapa that binds us. Because every record is a thread, and together, they weave the cloak of Te Atiawa.