An ancient Coromandel pā site that left iwi ownership over a century ago is now back in the hands of whānau with traditional ties to the whenua.
Brett Shepherd (Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Maru) has a career in finance in Auckland. He has had his eye on the Te Puru property, the site of a pā dating back six generations, for several years.
“Before they each died, my grandfather and my mother were both determined to return the land to family ownership. For this opportunity to arise, and for me, my partner Raewyn and my children to be able to take it, is immensely satisfying,” he says.
In recent years the property has been the site of La Casa, an award-winning Mediterranean style lodge used as a thriving accommodation and functions business.
North of Thames on the west side of Coromandel, the property was placed for sale with Emma Muir of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Morrinsville, who describes it as the perfect venue for weddings and events.
“In an idyllic elevated setting overlooking the Firth of Thames, surrounded by beautifully landscaped tropical style gardens, including a huge lawn for marquees, plus spacious guest and owner accommodation, La Casa has enticing potential as a well-run business in a wonderful part of the country,” she says.
Brett compliments the previous owners.
“They have run it beautifully, maintaining the grounds and buildings. We are grateful for their kaitiakitanga. They have been great guardians, which we look forward to continuing,” he says.One initial change will be the name: reverting from La Casa to Te Āputa, the original name of Te Puru, referencing the flat open land on the Firth of Thames.
The land or whenua on which the lodge sits was also one of the pā sites for Taraia Ngakuti Te Tumuhia, a prominent chief of Ngāti Tamaterā. Taraia was the cousin and companion of Tukukino Te Ahiataewa, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tamaterā. Brett and his whānau are direct descendants of Tukukino. Tukukino and Taraia were fierce opponents to gold mining in the region, as well as confiscation of land for government use. In the mid to late 1870s both were subjects of Gottfried Lindauer portraits.
“This connection is so special and sacred to our whānau” Brett said.
Brett and the whānau also intend to work with DOC, which maintains a small whare on reserve land in front of the lodge, where old photos and artistic renditions of the pā are displayed.
“We have cousins all around, neighbouring Te Āputa. It’s a very important site for us,” says Brett.
Into the current generation, Brett’s nephew Callum and wife Aliesha are excited to relocate from the Bay of Islands and take over managing the lodge. While continuing it as a commercial events venue, their plans include the talents of wider whānau and increasing the presence of traditional values in the business.
“We want to revitalise the connection with our Tukukino heritage. Many family members are gifted in arts and crafts. We see the opportunity to use the space for exhibitions and seminars featuring that knowledge, which in turn will grow profitability,” says Callum.
Reinforcing the significance of the place itself is their focus.
“Once upon a time on the pā site just below, our tupuna were wandering these exact hills and land. Bringing māoritanga and tikanga, our history back into this beautiful building is an amazing opportunity. We want to share that feeling with our guests, showing them and teaching them what this whenua means, giving them that experience so that they feel just as much at home as we do,” he says.
Brett wants to take it another step, using Te Āputa as a model for others to follow.
“I hope we can set an example for other aspiring Māori. You always ask yourself ‘how can we give back?’ Whenua is an important part of our identity. I’m very proud to be able to do this, to purchase this property, bring it back to the whānau and influence where it goes from here. I’d like to inspire others to do something similar, and re-connect with their own land,” he says.
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