Waipuna Stream’s name gets official recognition

By Philip Sim

The author and his whānau have a seven-generation whakapapa to Waipuna Stream.

Perfect timing: On 18 December, I received notification from the Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board that Waipuna Stream has been assigned as an official place name.

This naming of Waipuna Stream is significant to not only my whānau, but also mana whenua iwi, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui and the community.

Waipuna means “spring water,” named for the natural spring that flows into the stream. Nearby is a punawai (spring) on our whānau land, Waikawa West B. The water from this spring flowed into this waterway, now named Waipuna Stream.

My tupuna died 1925, 100 years earlier, with whenua interests - not only Waikawa West B223a, but also including the whenua where Waikawa Bay school is now - acquired by the Education Board in 1929.

My whānau are deeply connected to Waipuna Stream, having maintained ahikāroa (continuous) seven generations on the banks of this waterway.  It flows into Waikawa Bay, culverted under the marina and discharging into Waikawa Bay, and this is a site of significance to my iwi, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-Māui, because of the cultural and ecological heritage.

I have a 100-year-old photo of my mother on the beach near both Waipuna and Waikawa Streams where it was a mahinga kai area. Mum was a Waikawa Pā child surrounded by extended whānau including nearby her kuia, Puhi Wahine, born 140 years ago. Mum was Puhi Wahine’s first mokopuna, born near the protected Kānuka Tree, near Waipuna Stream.

The naming restores the mana of the stream and gives opportunity now to support the return of the mauri of Waipuna Stream to its natural state of free flowing.

Marlborough District Council, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui and Waitohi Picton Community Garden are aware of my aspirations to remove the willows from the stream and existing logs/debris with some minor channeling work to improve the health and biodiversity, water quality and habitat of the stream.

This would be followed by native plantings with opportunities in the future for everyone to be involved in these plantings and restoration of the nearby wetlands and Waipuna Stream. Water monitoring is also planned.

Local schools and Waikawa Marae wānanga will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning, which will increase the knowledge and understanding of history with the cultural significance of the area.

I am excited for the future and am surrounded by others with determined goals to enhance the area. Both Waitohi and Waikawa Streams are recited in pepeha of my mana whenua iwi Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-Māui -  and now I can also recite Ko Waipuna tōku awa.