Rāpaki

Rāpaki, officially Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa and previously known as Rapaki, is a small settlement within the Whakaraupo (Lyttelton, New Zealand) Harbour basin.[1]

This article is about Rapaki the place. For the floating crane, see Rapaki steam crane.
View of Lyttelton Harbour and Rapaki

Rapaki is one of four Banks Peninsula rūnanga (communities) based around marae (tribal meeting grounds).[2] The Rapaki Marae, also known as Te Wheke Marae, is a meeting ground of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke branch.[3] It includes Wheke wharenui (meeting house).[4]

Rapaki is overlooked by the peak Te Poho o Tamatea. According to one legend, the Ngāi Tahu chief Te Rakiwhakaputa named the place by laying his waist mat (Rapaki) down to claim it.[2] The full name of Rapaki is Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa, meaning the waist mat of Te Rakiwhakaputa.[5] On 8 July 2020, the New Zealand Geographic Board assigned the full name as the official name of the locality.[6]

References
  1. Wilson, John. "Canterbury places - Lyttelton Harbour". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke". Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  3. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  4. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  5. Rapaki marae introduction
  6. "Notice of the Final Determinations of the Minister for Land Information on Official Geographic Names". New Zealand Gazette. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 10 July 2020.


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