The extensive volcanic peninsula extending from the east coast of Te Waipounamu, southeast of Ōtautahi/Christchurch, has been referred to by successive generations of Māori as “Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū”, meaning “the great food store house of Rākaihautū”. This name was given as testament to the work of the great Waitaha tipuna, Rākaihautu, travelling in his waka Uruao, and in recognition of the abundance of food and resources found there. Today the papatipu rūnanga of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū are kaitiakitanga of the food and resources, from forests, seas, rivers, and sky. 

Humans (both Māori and colonial), in their settling on and use of the land, have been influenced by Banks Peninsula’s geologic and geomorphic landscape and have influenced that landscape through varying stages of occupation. Of especial significance is the influence of Maori on the Banks Peninsula landscape, preserved in multiple occupation sites. On Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula, Pa sites have remnant earthwork features, with their own prominent anthropomorphological expressions (house and horticultural sites, terraces, and fortifications). 

There is also the intangible heritage possessed by each rūnanga, giving insights into Māori world view, whakapapa, mātauranga Māori, connections to the landscape, and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). This mātauranga Māori is the right of individual rūnanga to share and Banks Peninsula is unique in the multiple voices still present as an integral part of, and in this landscape.