He paku hītori
History & cultural context

We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the partnership envisaged under that. 

The area known as Te Whara or Bream Head is rich with cultural history, and is of special significance to Māori who consider the whole area as wāhi tapu (sacred place). 

On 25 November 1769, the Endeavour sailed into a large bay. Cook commented:

“We had no sooner came to an [anchor] than we caught between 90 and a hundred Breams, (a fish so called) this occasioned my giving this place the name of Bream Bay”

– James Cook

 The fish was probably snapper.

Cook also referred to the headland to the north as Bream Head and the headland to the south Bream Tail.

Te Whara/Bream Head is significant to Ngātiwai, Ngāti Kahu, Te Waiariki and Te Parawhau and other local and more distant iwi and hapū, particularly those descended from the Ngāi Tāhuhu Tribe, who used to occupy the Whangārei area, and the ancestor Manaia who settled at Whangarei Heads. Ngāti Kahu know the area as Kaione, referring to the paraoa (foam) drifting on to the onepū (sand), which was collected along the seashore and used for medicinal purposes [1].

We understand that Bream Head has been home to tāngata whenua for more than 500 years, and we see widespread evidence of human presence in the Reserve, for example through the large number of known archaeological sites.  The Trust acknowledges the cultural history and significance of the reserve, and is working to build the relationships which could enable priorities to be defined and delivered in partnership.

Source:

[1] Carpenter, J. (2012). Bream Head Heritage Assessment. https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/conservation/historic/by-region/northland/bream-head-heritage-assessment.pdf