Plan your Travel to Christchurch

Cultural history of Christchurch

The Māori name for Christchurch is Ōtautahi, derived from Tautahi the son of (Ngāi Tahu chief) Huikai of Port Levy. He built his settlement on the banks of the Otakaro Avon River, which would serve as a centre for political and economic activity.

Ngāi Tahu are the Māori people of the southern islands of New Zealand - Te Waipounamu. Ngāi Tahu means “people of Tahu” and all Ngāi Tahu descendants can trace their ancestry back to the tribe’s founder Tahu Pōtiki.

Ōtautahi Christchurch is of special cultural and historical significance to Ngāi Tahu. Prior to European settlement, Ngāi Tahu, and before them Ngāti Māmoe and Waitaha, maintained numerous kāinga and pā (habitation sites) within the Greater Christchurch area.

From these settlements, Ngāi Tahu gathered and utilised the plentiful natural resources from the network of springs, waterways, wetlands, grasslands and forests that were abundant along the Ōpāwaho (Heathcote) and Ōtakaro (Avon) rivers and around Te Ihutai (Avon-Heathcote Estuary).

An important role in Ngāi Tahu history belongs to the hapu of Ngāi Tūāhuriri. Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga is nearby where the famous Kaiapoi Pā was established by the first Ngāi Tahu ancestors when they settled in the South Island. Kaiapoi Pā was the major capital, trading centre and point from which further exploration and travel of the South Island occurred so the area is a genealogical centre for all Ngāi Tahu descendants.

Ōtautahi has a rich history and holds many layers of untold stories of settler culture. It is important for us to recognise, embrace and acknowledge our Māori history and look ahead to our shared future. The future being one that recognises the heritage and the mana whenua of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

Tourism

Click here for information on Ōtautahi I Christchurch to plan your visit.

See and hear how stories of mana whenua have been woven into the rebuild of Ōtautahi Christchurch here.