OHAKUNE — A traditional Māori star compass, known as whana tongitongi, has been unveiled at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Rangi in Ohakune, marking a significant step in reconnecting the next generation with ancient celestial knowledge.
The compass, named Te Tatau o Rongonui, was opened at dawn on Thursday. It serves as a kāpehu whetū—a tool for navigation and forecasting traditionally used across Polynesia. The project was led by Ngāti Rangi celestial researchers Riwaru Tihema and Rauroha Brown, who designed the structure based on traditional tribal narratives and astronomical expertise.
A Living Classroom
The whana tongitongi functions as an open-air observatory, similar to ancient stone compasses found in Tahiti and Hawai’i. By utilizing the rising and setting of the sun, moon, and stars, the structure acts as a seasonal timekeeper. Future plans involve the erection of pou (posts) around the site to align with specific geographical and celestial markers.
For researcher Rauroha Brown, the compass represents a “memory holder,” comparing its utility to modern technology like a GPS or a smartphone. “The reason you would establish one of these whana tongitongi is they’re pretty much like a GPS, a phone or a usb [drive] – a memory holder and resource for delivering information, telling you when to plant, when to hunt,” Brown said. “Like a how-to-sustain-your-life app.”
Preserving Ancestral Knowledge
The initiative began in 2022 following a proposal by Tihema, with construction commencing the following year. The development process involved extensive cross-referencing of manuscripts and kōrero with Ngāti Rangi kaumātua to ensure the design remained grounded in kōrero tuku iho (traditional narratives).
Helen Leahy, pou ārahi/chief executive of Ngā Waihua o Paerangi, noted that the project aims to help whānau live by the stars, covering traditional practices such as tuna heke (eel migration), maara kai (food gardens), and bird migration. “They wanted to teach whānau the skills required to read, understand, implement and uphold traditional passing of knowledge from generation to generation. to maintain balance in a way that promotes wellness,” Leahy said.
Significance and Future Outlook
The installation highlights a broader history of sophisticated astronomical systems in Aotearoa. Brown noted that similar observatories, including those with water-based reflecting telescopes, exist in the Waimarino and Waiouru districts. These sites, much like Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza, were once vital for guiding agriculture and spiritual life.
Looking ahead, the presence of the star compass at the kura is expected to transform how students interact with their environment. Kura tumuaki (principal) Pikimai Ouknider described the unveiling as “succession in the making,” suggesting that the integration of this mātauranga (knowledge) into the daily curriculum could foster a stronger connection to heritage for the students.
As the students begin to learn the intricacies of reading the compass, the school may see an increase in the application of traditional knowledge to local gardening, hunting, and fishing practices. By awakening this ancestral understanding within the tamariki, the community hopes to ensure the long-term preservation of Ngāti Rangi’s cultural wealth.
