OUR NAME
BEGINNINGS
The Geopark Project was initially raised by the Banks Peninsula community after the events of the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2011. At that stage a name had not been proposed. As the project developed names were developed in korero and partnership with kaumatua Peter Ramsden. The first was that of Horomaka Geopark, reflecting Koukourarata’s naming for the entirety of Banks Peninsula. As the project progressed and greater involvement occurred it was indicated that Horomaka while being seen as reflecting Banks Peninsula by some Papatipu rūnanga it was not a universally reflected name for the peninsula.
TE PĀTAKA O RĀKAIHAUTŪ
Peter Te Rangi Hīroa Ramsden proposed the “Paihere Geopark”. The translation of paihere is “to bind together in a bundle”. And comes from the statement “He tika te kupu a Mahuta e kī nei, kit e Kotahi te rākau a whati, engari mehemea ka maha ngā rākau ka paihaerengia kia mātotoru ai e kore rawa e whati (TJ 13/7/1899:10)” / Mahuta was right when he said that if there is one stick it can be broken, but of there are many sticks bound together into a thick bundle it will never be broken. In using Paihere direct relationships could be made to the aspirations of the Geopark, to not only bundle together knowledge but also to bring together communities, and in doing so becoming more resilient. This working name existed for two years until Peter Te Rangi Hīroa Ramsden further reflected and believed Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Geopark is the name to reflect the origins of the whenua and an agreed te reo name for the peninsula. Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū translates as “the storehouse of Rākaihautū”. Rākaihautū, a Waitaha ancestor, explored the Te Wai Ponamu /South Island with his kō (carved digging stick) sculpting the rivers, valleys, lakes and landscapes as he travelled. After his tiring work he settled on Banks Peninsula as it was a place of bountiful resources. Satisfied Rākaihautū rested his kō (named Tūwhakaroria), which is preserved today as Tuhiraki / Mt Bossu.
As Rākaihautū was sculptor of the land it is our pleasure to represent his heritage in the name of our Geopark, Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Geopark.