https://www.facebook.com/renewsnz/videos/270239546842883/
After we completed a brainstorm we had a discussion with Sam. He made some really good points, in particular, that what we've been researching; how to describe Wellington, isn't revealing any NEW ideas. He also mentioned that culture is an interesting concept and that culture really exists because of PEOPLE. I think this is a really interesting point. It's the people who make a city. https://vimeo.com/270244268
After we brainstormed with Jennifer, I decided to look into Wellington's history;
Brief History
Wellington has a long and colourful history. Maori legends date back as far as 950 AD when Kupe first discovered Wellington. In the 1840s European settlers began to arrive and colonise the region.
Later the seat of government of New Zealand would move from Auckland to Wellington, to become the capital city as it remains today. The seat of government in New Zealand was moved from Auckland to Wellington in 1865, largely on the basis of Wellington's central geographical position. (New Zealand's first capital city was Old Russell (Okiato) in 1840–41. Auckland was the second capital from 1841 until 1865 when Parliament was permanently moved to Wellington after an argument that persisted for a decade. As the members of parliament could not agree on the location of a more central capital, Wellington was decided on by three Australian commissioners.)
Māori History
Long before Europeans settled in Wellington, the waterfront area was the centre of local Māori life. The history of the area and it's importance in Māori culture is shown by the names given to the area and its surrounds.
The earliest known name for Wellington city, derived from Māori legend, is Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui or the head of Maui’s fish. Te Whanganui a Tara is another name Māori gave the area – a name said to come from Whatonga’s son Tara who was sent down from the Mahia Peninsula by his father to explore southern lands for their people to settle. It literally means the great harbour of Tara.
Kupe, the great Māori explorer, is said to have stayed in the harbour hundreds of years ago and many place names in the harbour acknowledge his presence – Matiu and Makaro, or Somes and Ward Islands as they are also known, are the names of two of Kupe’s nieces.
When European settlers arrived they found thriving Māori settlements stretching from Waiwhetu on the eastern side of the Hutt Valley, Petone, round to settlements at the mouth of the Kaiwharawhara Stream to Pipitea Pa, Kumutoto Pa, Tiakiwai Pa and finally into Te Aro Pa in the heart of the waterfront.
Te Ātiawa settled the inner harbour area and had a close relationship with Ngāti Toa further north. Not only were the settlements thriving, there was also a healthy water-based trade and communication system. The area south of Te Aro Pa was well-cultivated. Gardens extended to where the old Museum at Buckle Street now stands and on some of the hilly area up to Brooklyn and Vogeltown. Streams, the Waitangi Lagoon on the eastern side of Te Aro Flat (near the site of Waitangi Park), surrounding bush and the harbour itself were rich food sources, and a source of other supplies such as flax and wood.
Naming
The harbour that surrounds Wellington city, and the greater Wellington region, have been known by several names throughout history. Maori legends name the greater Wellington region as "Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui" or "the Head of Maui's fish".
Kupe is believed to be the first Polynesian explorer to come to Wellington in 950 AD. He was followed by Tara, who named the area "Whanganui-a-Tara" or "the great harbour of Tara".
In 1773 Captain Cook first anchored in Wellington harbour. The harbour was later charted in 1826 by Captain Herd who named it Port Nicholson, in honour of John Nicholson, a harbour-master of Port Jackson, New South Wales.
In 1840 the directors of the New Zealand Company settled on the name Wellington. The name was chosen in order to express their gratitude to the Duke of Wellington, a supporter of the company in England.
The colour yellow
Wellington's colour is yellow right? but why? A sports team. Is that really reflective enough of all the interests of Wellington inhabitants? Personally, I don't feel that connected to sports. Is yellow the best colour?
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