15
WINTER 2016
such as cultural, spiritual, sacred
landscapes and more recently
shared landscapes, but prophecy
is an unexplored area and I found
no research on this subject within
landscape architecture – making
this the first.
Through literature reviews and
historical searches, research of
the post-colonial theory of
hybridity, the Resource Management Act and the Te Aranga Māori
Design Guidelines I created a set
of diagrams that gave a steer on
the type of prophecy that would
be appropriate – having strong
connection to both the land and
people of Auckland. I found two
prophecies I wished to investigate;
one of them will be discussed in
this article.
Interviews with well-informed
people both Māori and Pākehā
were conducted; the participants
were key holders of vital historical, cultural and ethnographic
information instrumental to the
study. Following the interviews,
the site locations for the project
revealed themselves in a way that
INTRODUCTION
The concept of a prophecy is
different to a historical point
in time, it may be recorded in a
historical manner but it moves
through time and evolves within
its passing. According to Geertz
(1994) “Prophecy is not static, but
is and always has been used in
response to internal and external
conditions as a way of articulating
and defining contemporary events
within the context of language
and ‘tradition’.”
Pita Turei (2015) uses the word
matakite in place of prophecy
explaining, “Only in recent times
have the words prophet and
prophecy been use and it’s not a
translation – it’s a different thing.
If we substitute matakite with
these words, we blur a line and
take a label based within Christian influence; this diminishes the
perception of what our own terms
of reference are.”
THE PROCESS AND METHOD
Considerable attention has been
given to related landscape topics
Site Selection:
Point Erin
.
THE PROPHECY AND THE SITES
The catalyst for this research began while participating in the 2013
IFLA50 Student Charrette with a
design proposing the erection of
pou on the Ōkahu Bay breakwater. Ngāti Whātua representatives
who attended the final presentation connected the design to
a prophecy given by a tohunga
named Titahi. It is proposed that
Point Britomart
Victoria
Park
Cox’s Bay
Point
Chevalier
.
aligned to the historical events
influenced by the prophecy, all of
which have shaped Auckland city.
The project developed a process
that demonstrates prophecy
may play an important role in
landscape site analysis and also
considered the impact of a prophecy-led design process.
For Māori, knowing your whakapapa is essential to identity since
it expresses who you are. By
giving recognition to Auckland’s
historical past and whakapapa,
a point of reference emerges
that defines the city, enabling it
to move forward with a clearer
vision of the future.
Opoututeka
Te Rerenga Oraiti
Judges Bay
k
ek
Cre
ree
ola
sC
Me
tion
Mo
Western Park
Hobson Bay
The Domain
Grey Lynn Park
Western Springs
yC
kle
Oa
e
re
Mount Eden
Orakei
Basin
BOROUGH
of
NEWMARKET
k
Maungawhau
AVONDALE
ROAD
DISTRICT
Okahu
Bay
BOROUGH
of
Mt ALBERT
BOROUGH
of
Mt EDEN
ONE TREE HILL
ROAD DIST.
One Tree Hill
Maungakiekie
.
Bastion Point
Takaparawhau