Today it is all about multi-cultural kai but in the past Ōtāhuhu had its own food story.
It is situated between the Manukau Harbour and the Tāmaki River on a piece of land that is just one kilometre wide - the narrowest point in all of Aotearoa. While monuments and signs recognise its military past, Ōtāhuhu was a once bustling trading station with a portage for waka on the Manukau.
Ōtāhuhu means Te Tahuhutanga o Te Waka Tainui, which translates as the ridgepole of the Tainui waka but local iwi and mana whenua, Te Ākitai Waiohua are not descended from Waikato Tainui.
Local iwi Chairperson of Te Ākitai Waiohua, Karen Wilson joins Mihi for a chat - on the maunga itself.
Karen Wilson, Chairperson of the Te Ākitai Waiohua Iwi Authority at the base of Ōtāhuhu maunga Photo: Supplied
