At Radfords on the Lake, we are privileged to operate in the heart of Te Ana-au, a place steeped in cultural significance for Ngāi Tahu and the wider iwi of Te Wai Pounamu. With the generous support of Darren Rewi (Take Tuia Ltd – Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha), we are honoured to share these stories, which reflect the deep connection between people, place, and tradition.

1. Te Ara Tawhito – The Ancient Trails

For generations, Te Anau was a vital waypoint for Ngāi Tahu on their seasonal journeys to harvest precious pounamu (greenstone) from Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) and Te Awa Whakatipu (Dart River). As spring warmed the landscape and birdlife returned, families travelled inland via waka and ancient tracks. Some followed the path now known as the Milford Track to Anita Bay; others crossed through the Mavora Lakes to Glenorchy. After the harvest season, they regrouped in Te Anau before journeying back to their coastal villages via the Waiau River.

2. The Lost Tribe of Fiordland

In the early 1700s, a pivotal battle between Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mamoe occurred near Mossburn. The defeated Mamoe scattered across Fiordland, some hiding in the Murchison Mountains and Doubtful Sound. Oral traditions suggest the Maori that Captain Cook later met on the Fiordland coast were their descendants. Archaeologists seeking these lost communities discovered ancient middens, and inadvertently rediscovered the long-lost takahē, now commemorated in Lake Orbell.

3. Mahika Kai – Working the Food

Mahika Kai, the practice of seasonal food gathering, was essential to the prosperity of southern Māori. Te Anau provided rich resources: tuna (eel), kanakana (lamprey), kakahi (freshwater mussels), and native birds like whio and kākāriki. Plants were also treasured—especially taramea, whose fragrant oil was traded and reserved for chiefly families. These practices were deeply sustainable, ensuring balance between people and environment.

4. The Moa and the Pouākai

The Te Anau basin was once home to the moa, a towering flightless bird, and the pouākai (Haast’s eagle), its formidable predator. As both became scarce, Māori spoke of spirits and fairies stealing children, perhaps reflecting the shadow of this apex predator. Over time, moa bones were so frequently found that factories ground them into fertiliser. Their story lingers in the land beneath our feet.

5. Te Ana-au – The Names That Hold Memory

Te Ana-au means “the cave of swirling water.” This seasonal settlement became the hub of Mahika Kai for southern tribes. Many local landmarks tell stories:

• Te Rua (Dock Bay): Once rich in mussels, lost due to changes in eel migration.
• Mount Luxmore (O te horua a Te Puhituia): Named for a princess of the early iwi.
• Lookout Hill (Te Titiro o Tukare): Where a warrior chief watched for enemies.
• Te Kowhai & Otara: Seasonal villages and launch points for inland journeys.
• Kaukaha & Te Kauwaroa: Places where legend meets the power of Fiordland’s waters.

6. Toki – The Tools of Harvest

Clearing land around Te Anau revealed the remains of ancient life—moa bones and toki (adzes). These tools were made of pakohe (argillite), greywacke, or prized pounamu. Some still bear thumbprints from centuries past. Today, these taonga are cherished by families, linking the present to the ancestors who shaped this land.

7. Pounamu – The Stone of the Spirit

To Māori, pounamu holds wairua (spirit). Worn or placed at doorways, it serves as a guardian and a gesture of goodwill. Flowing water is used to cleanse its energy. In Te Anau, pounamu isn’t just a stone, it connects us to the journeys, traditions, and protection of those who came before.

Statement of Cultural Respect

These stories have been shared with the blessing of Darren Rewi (Take Tuia Ltd), a descendent of Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe and Waitaha. We thank him for his generosity and guidance. Radfords on the Lake acknowledges the mana of the tangata whenua and is committed to honouring and protecting the stories, language, and legacy of this whenua.