Te Tāuratanga o Hinemaia

Ko Hikurangi te maunga,

Ko Waiapu te awa,

Ko Porou-ariki-te-matatara-a-whare te tipuna

Ko Ngāti Porou me Te Whānau a Apanui ngā iwi,

Ko Hinemaia Te Rerekohu Dewes taku ingoa.

I was introduced to the InSitu whānau in 2022, through mutual friends and archaeologists, Pam Bain and Danielle Trilford. After completing my bachelor's degree majoring in Māori and Indigenous Studies at The University of Waikato (2021), I returned home to the East Coast where I met Pam and Danielle on a cultural mapping project in Te Araroa, East Cape.  I was new to archaeology at the time, and for me, my passion was about learning the history and kōrero tuku iho. It wasn’t until I began learning about the archaeology on site, that I became fascinated with it and how it can supplement traditional knowledge. I began to recognise that archaeologists and kaitiaki of kōrero tuku iho are alike in coming to recognise each has valuable knowledge to contribute to the understanding of our stories, people, and history. I realised then that this was the type of meaningful mahi I wanted to do for my whānau and hapū.

Photo right: Hinemaia on the Te Araroa Cultural Mapping Project, Nga Tapuwae o Tātou Tīpuna.

I was then introduced to the InSitu whānau and for several months I volunteered my time, shadowing archaeological projects with Josie and Andy in the Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty regions. Following that, I was offered a 3-month summer studentship with InSitu and relocated to join the team in Whakatāne.

I have gained much from my experience here at InSitu. I have developed skills in excavation, sampling, artefact recovery, archaeological surveying and reports, geophysical field work, mapping and sketching, site record updates as well as the opportunity to attend the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) Conference in November 2022.   It was during the NZAA Conference I was accepted into the Masters of Archaeological Practice program at The University of Otago and successful in gaining a Masters Scholarship, commencing in 2023.

Image left: Hinemaia excavating a pit site in Te Teko

I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside the InSitu team and experience what it's like working in an archaeology consultancy who value and respect tikanga and Māori archaeology. I thank Lynda, Josie, and Andy for valuing me and my whakaaro and for continuously showing their unwavering support and guidance throughout my journey. It has been an incredible time and I look forward to supporting the next student that comes along and joins the whānau.