On this day in 1844 the Ngāi Tahu rangatira Te Huruhuru drew the first map of Wānaka, Hāwea and Whakatipu Waimāori

By Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu | Posted: Monday Jan 13, 2025

When Edward Shortland arrived at Te Puna-a-Maru on the south bank of the Waitaki River while undertaking his census of the Māori population of southern New Zealand, Te Huruhuru agreed to ferry him across the flooded river. While awaiting the construction of mōkihi to carry the party across the river, Shortland obtained valuable information from Te Huruhuru about the interior of Te Waipounamu, including this map. Te Huruhuru also described the inland settlements, trails and place names, and provided the first account of Te Pūoho’s raid.

In 1851, Shortland reproduced the map in his book The Southern Districts of New Zealand, and for many years the official Otago and Canterbury map showed the lakes as drawn by Te Huruhuru. This copy of Shortland’s map was probably drawn by Dr and Mrs Hocken for the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition 1889-1890.

Read more about Te Huruhuru in this biography of his life, which was originally published in Tāngata Ngāi Tahu Vol. I. Te Huruhuru - Biography - Kareao Ngai Tahu Archives Art Taonga

The map is available to view via Kareao: Te Huruhuru Map of Whakatipu Waimāori, Wānaka and Hāwea - Kareao Ngai Tahu Archives Art Taonga