About Us
Tēnei taku manu ka topa, ka tiu ki te tihi tapu o Takitimu
Ka mātai whakararo ki ngā wai tapu o Te Ara-a-Kewa
Ki tōku āhuru mōwai ki Te Takutai o Te Tītī
Tahu Pōtiki maraka, maraka
Komotia o koutou iwi ki te wāhi o Taratu
E, ko Uruao!
E, ko Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Waitaha te tū ake nei
E, ko Ōraka-Aparima te mihi atu nei.
Nau mai, Tauti mai!
Our Story
The takiwā of Te Rūnanga o Ōraka-Aparima centres around Ōraka, Colac Bay, and Riverton-Aparima and extends from Waimatuku to Tawhititarere. The extensive area of contrasting environment encompasses the lakes and mountains from Whakatipu-Waitai to Taiwhititarere, coastal and inland areas from Waimatuku to Piopiotahi-Milford Sound, Tawhitiarere inland through all of Western Southland, parts of Central Southland,and shares the investment in the landscape with other Murihiku Rūnanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
For generations, it was home to several kāika at Aparima, Ōraka, Kawhakaputaputa, Pahia, Tunoa, Te Tua and so on, as well as in various inland settlements around the Southern Lakes including Manapouri, Te Anau and beyond — many historic sites have been recorded along the way.
Multi-hapū based, the same as it is today, Te Rūnanga o Ōraka-Aparima has strong ties to and throughout the main streams of southern whakapapa-Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu. Both Aparima and Ōraka hold powerful spiritual attachment for our people, and consequently, many of our Rūnaka developments have been grounded in these two places.
Our administration building, offices, storage and whare taonga, three kaumātua units and a residential property, as well as the Tauraka Waka with its resource building and commercial property, are all located in Aparima. Just 11km away from Aparima, you will find our beautiful marae complex, Takutai O Te Tītī and Tīmata, a highly productive plant nursery, several seaside hectares for stock grazing, and Okoūra, a developing whenua matata (coastal wetland area).
Takutai O Te Tītī Marae
Takutai O Te Tītī means the seacoast or coastline of the Tītī, the name celebrates our Tītī (mutton-birds) returning each year to our shores. Their arrival heralds the coming Tītī season. Shortly after the marae complex was given its name research identified that Foreshore Road, which runs along the front of the marae, was once called “Takutai Terrace”! When the opportunity arose in 1993 to lease a space for our rūnaka to have a marae for Ōraka-Aparima in our rohe it was just a one-room, open-plan school. Since purchasing the whenua for our rūnaka three years later, we have been as a whānau working towards making improvements and creating our whānau space for all generations and future generations to come, to have a marae to come back to. For more information in relation to the marae or hire, please contact the Ōraka-Aparima office in Riverton.
Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu
We are fortunate as a rūnaka to manage Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu Lodge in the Valley of Te Anau, on behalf of Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust. The picturesque setting for the lodge, below the Takitimu Mountains, is rich with history — making it a retreat experience like no other. This self-contained lodge is available for hire and can have up to 25 people with 10 bunk rooms, an open plan lounge, kitchen and ablutions, kaumātua flats and walkways to enjoy the whenua. There is no internet, making Te Koawa the perfect place to unplug and enjoy some of the best Te Anau has to offer.
If you are interested in hiring Te Koawa, please contact the office to check availability.
Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka Office
Nau Mai, Haere Mai, Welcome to our Rūnaka Office, 175 Palmerston Street, Riverton.
We welcome all to come visit, if you have a query or just want to pop in and say hello. We are here during the week Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Our Partners
