Tahuna: A place of significant historical + geographical meaning
7 Manata
Tahuna, Queenstown's Māori name, holds significant historial and geographical meaning that provides deeper insight into the area's past and natural features.
The term "Tahuna" translates to 'a shallow sandbank' or 'sandy shore' in Māori. This designation reflects the area's geographical characteristics before European settlement transformed it into the bustling town known today. Māori settlers who arrived in the region were keenly aware of the land’s features and used descriptive terms to capture its essence.
Tahuna, in this context, was more than just a name; it was a reflection of the local topography and the type of terrain that early inhabitants encountered. The area around Lake Whakatipu, where Queenstown is situated, was initially marked by a variety of wetlands and shallow sandbanks, forming a diverse and dynamic landscape. In Māori culture, names often carry significant meaning and are deeply connected to the physical and spiritual aspects of the land. By naming the area Tahuna, the Māori people acknowledged the unique characteristics of the landscape and the resources it provided. The shallow sandbanks were crucial for various activities, including fishing and gathering, which were integral to the Māori way of life. This name thus served as both a geographical marker and a testament to the land's utility and significance.
As European settlers arrived and began developing the region, the name Queenstown was introduced, reflecting the colonial influence and the broader historical context of the time. Named in honor of Queen Victoria, Queenstown became a symbol of the new era of exploration and settlement. Despite this shift, the original name, Tahuna, remained a powerful reminder of the land’s earlier identity. It represents a period when the area was less altered by human activity and more connected to its natural state.
Today, while Queenstown is celebrated for its modern attractions and its status as an adventure hub, Tahuna remains a key part of the region’s heritage. It serves as a reminder of the area's original geographical features and the historical significance of its natural landscape. The duality of names—Queenstown for the contemporary city and Tahuna for its historical and geographical essence—highlights the evolution of the region from its early Māori roots to its current status as a global destination.
Manata from the Māori legend of Lake Whakatipu
Carved out of a huge glacier during the last ice age 15,000 years ago, the romantic Māori legend of Lake Whakatipu was born.
Many first-time visitors to Queenstown may not be familiar with Manata, the legend of Lake Whakatipu.
Featuring a distinctive ‘S’ shape, the legend tells the creation of Lake Whakatipu with the forbidden romance between the young warrior Matakauri and Manata, a beautiful daughter of a Māori chief.
One evening, Matau - a cruel taniwha (giant) - kidnapped Manata and hid her in his mountain lair. Manata’s father was so distraught, he declared that any warrior that was able to rescue her, could have her hand in marriage.
Matakauri accepted the challenge, figuring that this was the only way to prove his love to Manata. He however knew that the next time the warm wind blew from the north-west, the taniwha would be put to sleep.
When the wind blew, and the taniwha lay sleeping, Matakauri attempted to rescue the chief’s daughter. Matakauri discovered that the magical rope made from a two-headed dog that tied Manata to the taniwha could not be cut.
In her despair, Manata sobbed. When her tears fell on the rope, it dissolved and she was able to break free. The couple fled and were married as promised by Matau’s father.
After the wedding, Matakauri decided to rid of the taniwha once and for all. He waited again for the warm north-west wind to blow, when the giant was asleep.
Matakauri set fire to Matau to ensure he would never steal Manata again. The taniwha’s body melted, creating a deep gouge in the earth which filled with melted ice and snow.
The large ‘S’ shaped lake left in his place forms Lake Whakatipu, which translates as the ‘hollow of the sleeping giant’.
People say that the only part of Matau’s body that didn’t burn was his heart, which still beats in the lake, creating the mysterious, rhythmic 20cm rise and fall of it’s the lakes waters. Scientific explanation names this phenomenon a seiche – a standing wave that passes by every 27 minutes which causes the water level to rise and fall by 20cm, triggered by wind and atmospheric changes.
Te Taumata o Hakitekura
Te Taumata o Hakitekura, commonly known as Ben Lomond, the prominent peak behind 7Manata.
The Ben Lomond Track rewards hikers with spectacular panoramic views over Queenstown, Lake Whakatipu and the surrounding mountain ranges. These include Cecil and Walter Peaks / Ka-kamu-a-Hakitekura and The Remarkables / Kawarau.
The track begins among Douglas fir pine trees on the Tiki Trail or Skyline Access Road. At about 800m altitude, you leave the tree line behind to enter alpine tussocks and shrubs, climbing 1,316m to the Ben Lomond Saddle.
Beyond the saddle is Ben Lomond Station where the track crosses private land and is unmaintained. From here, the terrain becomes steeper and rougher. The hardest part of the climb is on the approach to Ben Lomond's 1,748m summit. It is a full day's hike with 1,438m elevation gain high into an alpine environment.
Mãori History
Te Taumata o Hakitekura is the Mãori name for Ben Lomond and Fernhill, located at Whakatipu Waimãori (Lake Whakatipu). Hakitekura, a Kãti Mamoe woman, was the first person to swim across the lake. After watching other young women from these mountains attempting to outswim each other, she decided that she wanted to outdo them. She got a kauati (a stick used to start fire) from her father, and a bundle of dry raupõ as kindling. The next morning, Hakitekura set out from Tãhuna.
With the kauati and raupõ bound tightly in harakeke (flax) to keep them dry, she swam across the lake in darkness, with the bundle strapped to her. When Hakitekura was discovered missing, her father remembered his daughter's request for a kauati, and a waka was sent across the lake to bring her back. The mountains where she would look across the lake were thereafter known as Te Taumata o Hakitekura (The Resting Place of Hakitekura). Source: Kã Hur Manu / The Ngãi Tahu Atlas.
Getting there
Located near central Queenstown, the four access points to this track are the Tiki Trail, starting next to Skyline Gondola base station (best option); the bottom of the Skyline Access Road on Lomond Cresent; One Mile Creek Track starting at Fernhill roundabout (navigation required); or returning via Skyline Gondola (one way ticket down available).
Know before you go
• Ensure you leave enough daylight hours and pack a headtorch
• The track is steep and can be very slippery and muddy. Sturdy footwear and poles are recommended
• The weather changes quickly in this region. Check the weather forecast. Strong winds, rain & snow can occur at any time of year
• Numerous steep, downhill mountain bike tracks intersect the walking track. Please stay on the walking track
• Ensure you follow signs and orange markers to stay on the right track
• Pack enough water for the day
• Toilets - There is a toilet located
• 100m before Ben Lomond saddle. Take your own supplies as no water, hand sanitiser or toilet paper is provided. Do not use the toilet as a rubbish bin. Take a pocket toilet just in case
• The section from the saddle to the summit is on private land. Please respect the landowner's rights and keep to the formed track to avoid stock disturbance and farm hazards
TESTIMONIALS
