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From issue: February 2000

“Sacred Places” to the Maori

by Nick Tupara

For Maori, the protection of their wahi tapu is a sacred responsibility.

One of the most commonly asked questions relating to Maori heritage is "what is a wahi tapu?" The term wahi tapu means "sacred place". However, a wahi tapu is more than that and can encompass a great range of items, tangible and intangible. The Trust is concerned to see wahi tapu managed as cultural heritage places that may have either tangible or intangible features.

The magnificent headland pa Te Kura a Maia at Bowentown in the Bay of Plenty is an example of a wahi tapu. Photo: Historic Places Trust

There are no set criteria to determine whether a place is a wahi tapu to any particular iwi, hapu or whanau as each will have its own perception of what a wahi tapu is. The wahi tapu of a hapu living in one valley may be different from the wahi tapu of a related hapu in the next valley. Nationally only Te Rerenga Wairua and maybe the celestial bodies are recognised by most Maori as wahi tapu. Urupa (burial places) are usually considered to be wahi tapu, but their tapu is of a higher order and they have their own mauri.

The Crown, over the years, has attempted to define in statute what a wahi tapu is, and a number of statutes, such as the Resource Management Act 1991, make reference to wahi tapu. The Historic Places Act 1993 included definitions for both a wahi tapu and a wahi tapu area.

Mount Maunganui, at the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, is regarded as a wahi tapu because of its importance in Maori tradition and history. Photo: Historic Places Trust

A wahi tapu is defined as "a place sacred to Maori in the traditional, religious, ritual or mythological sense" and a wahi tapu area as "an area of land containing one or more wahi tapu". These definitions are general, allowing iwi, hapu, or whanau to perceive wahi tapu however they wish to.

The Maori Heritage Council of the Historic Places Trust has listed places which could be considered wahi tapu for the purposes of the Act. A second list indicates places that could be regarded as simply historic places. Theses are guidelines only.

Wahi tapu include: Burial places; Rua Koiwi (places where skeletal remains are kept, such as rock overhangs, caves or hollow trees); Places where baptismal rites were performed; Burial places of placenta; Tuahu (places where rites were performed; Sites where skeletal remains were found, unless the tapu has been removed; Battle grounds where blood was spilt and the tapu has not yet been removed; Caverns and underwater burial places; Waiora springs (sources of water for healing); Sources of water for death rites; and Ara purahourua (sacred pathways for messengers).

Historic Places include: Pa and kainga that were occupied in former times; Landscape features such as cliffs, rocks and rivers which determined the boundaries of iwi or hapu; Ahi karoa (sites associated with claiming title of land); The range of sites which embody the parcel of tradition that is the unique cultural heritage of each tribal group; Battle sites where the tapu has been removed; Taunga waka; Taunga ika (fishing grounds and any associated rocks or landscape features); Mahinga kai (birding, cultivation, fishing, forest and mineral resource sites); Wahi taonga mahi a ringa (resource sites of Maori art materials); Wahi whakamahara (sites recognised as memorials to events); Ara (pathways connecting tribal areas and resource sites); Mythological sites; and Historic sites.

The definitions of wahi tapu and wahi tapu areas have been included in the Historic Places Act for registration purposes. Any person can apply to the Maori Heritage Council to enter a place onto the Trust's register of wahi tapu or wahi tapu areas.

The registration process provides for only the general location and nature of wahi tapu to be given. This ensures a certain level of confidentiality. The Maori Heritage Council decides if the place merits registering. The process also provides for notification, interim protection and making recommendations to local authorities, owners and other parties on ways to protect the place.

At its December meeting, the Maori Heritage Council received six proposals to register wahi tapu areas, which it was satisfied were supported by sufficient evidence. The six proposals will be entered onto the register as wahi tapu areas.

The Maori Heritage Council has also made the following recommendation to the appropriate local authorities: "That the wahi tapu areas including the individual wahi tapu and archaeological sites shall be protected from inappropriate activities and that the full protection of the wahi tapu area is adequately provided for in the regional and district plans and any management plan."

Registration of a place does not affect the property rights of owners or confer statutory protection but it does alert potential purchasers or developers to the significance of wahi tapu so they can be preserved through the sharing of information and through consultation. Places registered by the Trust are notified to the appropriate territorial local authorities and regional councils who should give the Trust notice of any resource/building consent applications which could affect the sites. They should also include details of the wahi tapu area in any Land or Project Information Memorandum that is issued pertaining to the area.

At the time of writing, Nick Tupara was the Head of the Maori Heritage Unit of the Historic Places Trust/Pouhere Taonga.