Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to mark gifting of land 175 years ago

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust will today mark the 175th anniversary of its signing over of land to the Crown, which officially began the process of creating Auckland city.

Chair, Phillip Davis, says the date is significant for both the hapū and the Crown.

“This is an important day for Ngāti Whātua. Our ancestors worked closely with Captain Hobson and his people to make Tāmaki the capital of New Zealand.

“It was the beginning of a lot of hard work on both sides to prepare Auckland to be an effective settlement,” says Mr Davis.

On 18 September, 1840, Ngāti Whātua chiefs and almost 100 followers, attended a ceremony near Emily Place to sign a provisional Deed. Together with an official Crown delegation, the flag of St George was then raised and the name ‘Auckland’ was carved at the base of the pole.

A 3,500 acre block of land was later transferred to become Auckland.

Today, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will hold a small ceremony to acknowledge the signing of the Deed.

Mr Davis says the hapū is also planning a larger event in the New Year to commemorate the actual handing over of the land, which occurred in 1841.

“We are currently looking at an appropriate way to acknowledge our shared history and bring the wider Auckland community together,” he says.

ENDS

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