Tutaepatu Lagoon and Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara

Tūhaitara was a significant figure in Ngāi Tahu history and whakapapa. Her marriage to Marukore resulted in eleven children, one of which was Tamaraeroa the grandfather of Tūāhuriri. A fall out between Tūhaitara and Marukore eventually saw father and sons in combat against each other, ultimately the children defeated their parents.   

Tūhaitara Coastal Park is centred on Tutae Patu Lagoon and covers around 575 hectares of land along the coastline between the Waimakariri River mouth to the township of Waikuku. This a 10.5 kilometre stretch of coastline includes natural features of local, regional and national importance. Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust was established as an outcome of the Ngāi Tahu Settlement with the Crown, with the lands being gifted to the people of New Zealand.

The trust includes six trustees – three appointed by Waimakariri District Council and three appointed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Te Kōhaka o Tuhaitara Trust has a 200 year vision of restoring the park to an indigenous ecosystem and mahinga kai. The Trusts education programme has ten bi-lingual lesson modules created with the assistance of the Ngāi Tūāhuriri Education Committee and Hōaka Pounamu students. 

Tūhaitara

Tūhaitara Coastal Park, article in Te Karaka

Tutaepatu Lagoon restoration video.

Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara website