Ōnuku Rūnanga gifted the name Te Ake to us and it connects closely with our whakatauākī - Onamata, onāianei, anamata, mo te ake ake.
Our Chair, Dean Moana of Ngāti Porou Nāti Growth, shared kōrero about our partnership and our long standing commitment to Akaroa Harbour. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger spoke about the strength of our local relationships and our place in the community as we come to our 40 year anniversary.
Our CEO, Stewart Hawthorn, spoke of his pride in our team who have spent the past year building Te Ake right here in Wainui. For him, this waka is a major investment in our future as a locally owned company that is willing to forge its own destiny.
We then headed to the Wainui Community Hall for breakfast with the community, featuring pastries from Akaroa bakery -A La Baguette and our own Mānuka smoked salmon.
A deeper explanation of why the name is such an honour to us from Jymal Morgan, as our partner from Ōnuku Rūnanga Inc Soc :
"Te Ake is a name woven from the Māori words ‘Te’ and ‘Ake’. Each word carries its own mana, and when bound together, they become a vessel for story and vision that stretches far beyond a single moment in time. It is a name that binds memory, landscape, and people, inviting us to all walk in the footsteps of those before us and leave footprints for those yet to come, “mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei”
Hau Kaika - Ngāi Tahu & Ngāti Irakehu Connection
Te Ake is also a prominent Ngāi Tahu ancestor whose story is deeply connected to the identity of Akaroa itself, woven through local whakapapa and history. Te Ake and his whanaunka (relative) Te Rakitaurewa, were early Ngāi Tahu settlers of Akaroa. Both Te Ake and Te Rakitaurewa are represented as carved poupou (posts) within the whare (meeting house) at Ōnuku Marae. Their presence stands as a living legacy, a celebration of perpetual connection, kaitiakitanga and the enduring strength of Ngāti Irakehu. By connecting the story of Te Ake to this contemporary pillar (our boat), we collectively affirm our commitment to being kaitiaki of both the harbour and its heritage, honouring our whakapapa and our place for those who come after us. "
He waka, he ingoa, he ara hou - Our Vessel, Our name, Our Journey
