Tākitimu

The Tākitimu canoe is an important migration canoe that is associated with many different iwi throughout the North and South Islands. There are several variations of the tradition, some of which suggest the waka took alternative routes. In addition, there is more than one waka called Tākitimu and several different final resting places.

The southern version has Tamatea as the captain of the waka. Following landfall in the North Island, the canoe carried on to Te Waipounamu travelling along the east coast and eventually being wrecked in Southland. The canoe became the mountain range still known to this day as the Tākitimu Mountains. The association with Dunedin is minimal although it is suggested that a series of place names north of Warrington recall part of Tamatea’s northward journey to Canterbury on foot. The most significant Tākitimu association is the wharenui (meeting house) at Ōtākou Marae that is named after the captain, Tamatea. This is discussed in greater detail below.