Te Heru o Kahukura

The raukura (feather) depicted in the Wigram Skies logo draws reference to the vast Canterbury skyline and the long association Wigram has had with flight. In particular, the various forms within the raukura acknowledge the cultural significance of this area to local Māori heritage by referencing a number of local wāhi tapu and wāhi taonga. ¹

The heru is suggestive of a traditional comb (heru) used to adorn the topknots of high ranking people. The three koru figures represent three significant wāhi tapu associated with the Wigram Skies landscape: Ō-Te-Ika-i-te-Ana, Ō-Tū-Matua and Mānuka.

Ō-Te-Ika-i-te-Ana was a large village settlement (pā) occupied by Ngāi Tahu right up until the late 19^th century and was used by those hunting and gathering local resources (mahinga kai), including kiore (native rats), koreke (NZ quail), tutukiwi (NZ snipe), aruhe (fern root) and tuna (eels).

Ō-Tū-Matua is the spur just above Halswell where an altar (tūahu) was located traditionally and used by the resident tribes to both forecast weather and perform the rituals appropriate to preparing for seasonal mahinga kai activities. 

Ō-Tū-Matua is also important as it was used in evidence before the 1868 Native Land Court and the 1879 Smith-Nairn Commission as a boundary marker between the 1848 Canterbury Land Purchase and the 1856 Akaroa Land Purchase. ²

Mānuka is the name of a large Ngāti Māmoe pā that once stood in a strong defensive position at the foot of the hills not far from Tai Tapu. It was eventually stormed and captured by the Ngāi Tahu chief Te Rakiwhakaputa during his rampage of the Whakaraupō / Lyttleton harbour area.

[Cultural information contained in this report is taken from the Cultural Values Report prepared for the South West Area Management plan.]

¹ Wāhi tapu and wāhi taonga are sites of cultural significance to local Mana Whenua. Wāhi tapu relate to places that are imbued with an element of sacredness or restriction due to a certain event or situation. Wāhi taonga are areas that are not necessarily sacred or restricted but are significant all the same given their fundamental relationships with key aspects of Māori culture (e.g. stories associated with the origins of life). Mana whenua are those recognised as holding the traditional rights and responsibilities within a particular area takiwā to manage and govern natural resources for the long term benefit of their people. The Wigram Skies development falls within the takiwā and customary interests of Ngāī Tūahuriri, which centres on Tuahiwi and extends from the Hurunui River in the north to the Hakatere River in the south, sharing an interest with Arowhenua Rūnanga northwards to Rakaia and thence to the Main Divide. Prior to Ngāi Tūahuriri, this area fell with the domain of Ngāi Tūhaitara and its descendent hapû generically referred to as Ngāti Hine-matua.

² The boundary line in question ran in a direct line from Kaiapoi Pā in North Canterbury to Ō-Tū-Matua, through Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) and on to the Pā at Taumutu.