Key Takeaways
- The pahū pounamu, a massive greenstone gong, is said to have been hidden around 1740 by Kiwi Tāmaki, the most significant chief in the history of Tāmaki Makaurau.
- The gong is believed to have been used to summon a war council or call the people to shelter in their pā, and its discovery would be one of New Zealand’s most important archaeological discoveries.
- Despite numerous claims and theories, the location of the pahū pounamu remains a mystery, with some believing it was hidden in a cave on the south-western edge of Maungawhau, while others think it may have been hidden in a hole in the ground or even dropped in the harbour.
- The search for the pahū pounamu is complicated by the fact that many of Auckland’s caves have been destroyed or covered up, and the iwi, Te Ākitai Waiohua, has yet to sign a treaty settlement, which could create a disputed ownership case.
Introduction to the Pahū Pounamu
The story of the pahū pounamu, a massive greenstone gong, has been passed down for generations, and its discovery would be a significant archaeological find. The gong is said to have belonged to Kiwi Tāmaki, the most significant chief in the history of Tāmaki Makaurau, and was used to summon a war council or call the people to shelter in their pā. The gong’s name, whakarewa-tāhuna, means "to float or launch" and refers to a beach or shore, possibly even a specific location. The transportation of the gong from Te Wai Pounamu to Tāmaki Makaurau by waka would have been a significant feat, worthy of being remembered.
The History of the Pahū Pounamu
The pahū pounamu disappeared around the same time Kiwi Tāmaki was defeated and his iwi, Te Waiohua, lost their military control of the region. According to legend, a woman named Peke, the wife of Te Hehewa, hid the gong in a secret location, which has since been forgotten. Some people believe it was dropped in the harbour, while others think it was hidden in a cave. The internet is light on information about the pahū pounamu, but there are a handful of clues buried in old legal documents and academic texts. For example, Justice Francis Fenton mentions the gong in an 1868 Native Land Court case, and it is also mentioned in The Ancient History of the Māori, a six-volume collection of oral histories by government historian John White.
The Search for the Pahū Pounamu
Despite numerous claims and theories, the location of the pahū pounamu remains a mystery. Kelvin Tapuke, a senior research fellow at Massey University, is a sceptic, believing the story of the pahū pounamu to be a myth. However, Karen Wilson, the great-great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Kiwi Tāmaki, believes the gong is real and that it is mentioned in the iwi’s statement of claims as part of the treaty settlement process. Peter Crossley, a caver, suggests that the gong could be hidden in Rangi’s Cave or Nga Ana Peka Rau, located around Windmill Rd, Mt Eden. However, these caves do not quite fit the description of being on the south-western edge of Maungawhau.
New Leads in the Search
Jan Lindsay, a professor at Massey University, sends through a PhD thesis by Jaxon Ingold, which uses geospatial analysis to predict the sites of lava caves. The thesis includes a map with a red dot showing a cave on the south-western edge of Maungawhau. Bruce Hayward, a geologist, confirms that the dot represents two narrow tubes that were discovered during footpath works in 2007. Although the entrances were covered up again, Hayward believes that the tubes are part of a longer lava tube that runs from the south-western side of the maunga. This new information provides a promising lead in the search for the pahū pounamu.
Challenges and Complications
The search for the pahū pounamu is complicated by the fact that many of Auckland’s caves have been destroyed or covered up. Additionally, the iwi, Te Ākitai Waiohua, has yet to sign a treaty settlement, which could create a disputed ownership case. Unearthing the pahū pounamu would likely require a full archaeological excavation, which would be a difficult proposition given the cave runs underneath private property. For now, Te Ākitai Waiohua is happy to leave the pahū pounamu underground, awaiting better certainty before proceeding with any excavation or search efforts. The discovery of the pahū pounamu would be a significant find, not only for its historical and cultural significance but also for its potential to shed new light on the history of Tāmaki Makaurau and its people.