Heretaunga

This chapter provides a brief introduction to Heretaunga and its surrounding regions within the provincial district of Hawke’s Bay. Complex Māori cosmology and ontology highlight the importance of this part of New Zealand and reveal its ultimate sources of mana that must be stewarded by the tangata whenua. As will be seen in following chapters, that has long been the responsibility of Māori leaders of the region. This explanation is enhanced by etic summaries of geology, landforms, climate, soils, vegetation, and water resources. The chapter concludes with a history of archaeological investigations in Heretaunga and surrounding regions. They are limited compared to many other regions in New Zealand, but the potential here to contribute a great deal to the understanding of New Zealand’s past as well as important anthropological questions is made clear.