Te Tumu Whakaora Taiao | The Environmental Research Institute (ERI)
Professor Tom Roa helped us with a traditional story that could be used to welcome people to the Environmental Research Institute Webpage. This story is about our region and about how the environment is fundamental to sustaining a vibrant healthy human population on Earth.
N艒 ng膩 r膩 o nehe noa atu te k艒rero m艒 te awa nei, m艒 Waikato, k膩ore an艒 kia puta te ira tangata. T膿r膩 ia ko Maunga Taupiri, i p膩ngia ki t膿tehi mate nui. Tahuri ana ng膩 whakaaro ki tana tung膩ne ki a Maunga Tongariro, ka tukuna ai e ia tana karere, he m艒kai kur墨, m膩 te tung膩ne hei tuku he wai, e ora ai te tuahine. Ka tukuna mai, engari i tahuti k膿 ki k艒 o Hauraki. N膩 te kur墨 i whiu kia haere tika mai ki a Taupiri. N艒 te taenga mai ka whai ora ai a Taupiri, 膩, ka tukuna te wai kia rere ki t艒na p奴aha, ki roto o Te Tai o Rehua. N艒 reira he wairua, he whakaora, n艒na n艒 Waikato, ka kiia ai e ng膩 t奴puna, m膿 he mate, 'Haria ki te wai!'
This story about the Waikato is from ancient times, before humans existed. Mount Taupiri became very unwell. Her thoughts turning to her brother Mount Tongariro for help, she sent her pet dog to him, for him to send some healing waters to succour her. The waters were duly dispatched, however the river began to go astray and headed for the Hauraki. The pet dog drove the waters back and they eventually arrived at Taupiri, bringing their healing powers to her. She then sent them on to Port Waikato, into the Tasman Sea. So there is a spirit of healing in the waters of the Waikato, and our old people say if someone is unwell, 'Take them to the water'.
Tainui kaumatua Tom Roa also gifted the Environmental Research Institute a ingoa M膩ori: Te Tumu Whakaora Taiao. It translates to 鈥�We are a place, a collective centre of activity, where we encourage others to work together and with us to restore and reinvigorate our environment.鈥� This name draws inspiration from significant Tainui places. Te Tumu Korero, at the residential home of the Kiingitanga (Waahi Pa), and Te Tumu o Tainui, the final resting place of the Tainui waka in Kawhia.
This name is meaningful to us as our members support caring for our environment through our research.