REFLECTIVE INSIGHTS #063 - THE ANCIENT NAVIGATOR: NUKUTAWHITI AND THE HOKIANGA STARTING POINT
The First Footprints
When we look at the map of our lives in Taitokerau, we have to recognise that everything has a starting point. Our journey doesn't begin with modern politics or the arrival of the sailing ships. It goes much deeper, back to the very first splash of an oar in the waters of the Hokianga. Today, we are looking at Nukutawhiti, the ancient navigator who returned to Aotearoa to settle the land. He is the anchor of our western whakapapa, a man who proved that the North was always destined to be a place of discovery and fresh beginnings. (Rahiri is descended from Nukutawhiti on his father’s side, so if you are descended from Rahiri you are also descended from this guy.)
Beyond his feats as a voyager, Nukutawhiti laid the foundation for our region's spiritual and intellectual landscape by establishing the first structures of Te Whare Wānanga o Taitokerau. This sacred institution was the ancient house of higher learning, dedicated to preserving the deep cosmic whakapapa and spiritual navigation laws of our people. By anchoring this wānanga in the North, he ensured that future generations would always have access to the ultimate truths of our identity.
The Return to the Harbour
Nukutawhiti did not stumble upon this land by accident. He was following the precise instructions and navigational maps left behind by his grandfather, Kupe. When Nukutawhiti sailed his great waka, Ngātokimatawhaorua, through the dangerous waves at the mouth of the Hokianga harbour, he was performing a massive act of faith and vision. He renamed the place Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, which means the great returning place of Kupe. He didn't come to extract or exploit, he came to build a home, plant seeds, and lay down a peaceful path for his descendants. He was fixing the soil before the first garden was ever dug.
The Guidance of the Navigator
Nukutawhiti’s journey across the great ocean shows us what happens when we follow the right signals. He didn't just look at the water, he looked up at the stars, reading the divine map written in the heavens by the Creator. He knew that to find your destination in a stormy world, you must stay connected to a higher source of light. This matches the beautiful truth that Ihu (Yeshua's name in the Paipera Tapu) shared with us. Ihu showed us that when we follow his light, we will never be lost in the dark, no matter how rough the seas of life get.
A Direct Teaching of Ihu
The scriptures give us total comfort that we have a true guide for our journey. Here is what Ihu said about his light:
"Then Ihu spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" - Ethiopian Orthodox Bible (John 8:12)
Ge'ez text: ወካዕበ፡ ተናገሮሙ፡ እግዚእ፡ ኢየሱስ፡ ወይቤሎሙ፡ አነ፡ ውእቱ፡ ብርሃኑ፡ ለዓለም፤ ዘሰ፡ ይተልወኒ፡ ኢየሐውር፡ በጽልመት፡ አላ፡ ይረክብ፡ ብርሃነ፡ ሕይወት።
Te Reo Māori, Paipera Tapu (1868 translation): I kī atu anō a Īhu ki a rātou, i mea, “Ko ahau te whakamārama o te ao; ki te aru tētahi i ahau, e kore ia e haere i te pōuri, engari, ka whiwhi ki te mārama o te ora.”
(The use of “mārama” here is both accurate and telling, because “light” in this context is about understanding and truth.)
Our Starting Point Today
When we remember Nukutawhiti, we are remembering our local agency. He didn't wait for a system to clear the path for him. He built his own waka, gathered his whānau, and navigated his own reality. Today in the North, we are being challenged to do the exact same thing. We cannot wait for outside systems to fix our towns or manage our resources. The starting point for our transition to a better society is right here in our own backyards. When our marae, our local shops, and our hapū work together to look after our people, we are simply continuing the voyage that Nukutawhiti started.
Sharing the Abundance
Nukutawhiti brought seeds to plant in the rich soil of the Hokianga, ensuring that his people would have an abundance of food. He prioritised the well-being of the collective, showing that true wealth is about how we look after one another. This is the ultimate lesson for us as we try to share the pie fairly at the grassroots level. We need to focus on building up our local networks, keeping our resources within our communities, and making sure no whānau is left out in the cold.
The Light of the North
Taitokerau has always been the starting point for the big shifts in our history. From Nukutawhiti’s landing to the covenants of the 19th century, the North has been a shining light to the rest of the world. We carry an inherent abundance and a deep spiritual library inside our whakapapa. My prayer is that Wairua Tapu guides us to reclaim this navigator mind. Let us clear away the static of modern anxieties, stand tall as Tāngata whenua, and steer our communities toward a future filled with peace, equity, and love.
