Taniwha:
Matamata is the kaitiaki (guardian) of Kāti Māmoe chief Te Rakitauneke who had a pā on the northern end of Mauka Atua and is attributed to carving out the Ōtākou harbour and the Taiari river in search of his master Te Rakitauneke. when they became separated. In our whakapapa Matamata is also the name of the grandfather of Te Rakitauneke.
Te Tara o te Marama:
The crescent moon shape of matamata’s mouth is a reference to a house built by Kāti Māmoe chief Tukiauau in Kaikoura. The house was named te tara o te marama (the horns of the crescent moon) and it was constructed to entrap his enemies, seeking revenge for the death of his father, Rākaimōmona. After Tukiauau got his revenge he settled on Whakaraupuka island under the mana of local chief Tūwiriroa who held mana over the lower Taiari Catchment. It also references the restoration work that our hapū has achieved at Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau wetlands.
Kā Mauka:
The triangles represent mauka within the catchment
Pou-takahi-a-maru (waihola hill): stands above lake Waihora and behind Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau.
Mauka Atua: the large mauka that watches over the lower Taiari valley, Mauka Atua is said to be a passenger of the Āraiteuru canoe. translated into English it means mountain of the gods. A number of rivers and streams flow off Mauka Atua and into Lake Waipōuri. Once covered in mixed beech/ podocarp/ kowhai/ lowlands forest. Mauka atua provided large amounts of forest fruits/birds and at its peak there are wetlands where waterfowl and fish were gathered
Huatea (silver peaks): The headwaters of a number of important tributaries to the catchment such as Whakaehu and Ōwhiro originate from Huatea and the forested hills surrounding it. Forest birds were taken from the hills and whio, kanakana, tuna, koura, kokopu were gathered from the waters.
Wai:
The koru patterns represent the interconnected system of wetlands that once stretched from lake Waihora all the way to Te Konika o Matamata (mosgiel). The important bodies of water that this pattern represent are:
Waihora – a large lake carved out by the first Polynesian navigator to arrive in Te Waipounamu (south island) and founding Waitaha ancestor Rākaihautu.
Extremely drained and taken by government.
Waipōuri – a large lake also believed to have been created by Rākaihautu. Extremely drained and taken by government.
Tatawai - a large lake that was extremely important to Ōtākou. Tatawai was illegally drained by settlers and unlawfully taken by the government through legislation despite it being promised as a Māori fishing reserve
Marama te taha – a lake north of Tatawai. Drained and taken by government
Kā waewae o te raki – a lake near the Dunedin Airport. Drained and taken by government.
Waipōtaka – a lake near mosgiel, said to be created by Matamata. Drained and taken by government.
Taiari
The circle bordering around the entire logo represents the Taiari river. Taiari was carved out by the movements of the taniwha Matamata as it was searching for its master Te Rakitauneke. It is the 4th longest river in the country and the longest undammed river in the Aotearoa.
All of these waterways are incredibly important to the hapū of Ōtākou