Kā Uri Unearthed: Rooted In Ancestry, Sustaining For Generations

A vision has come to fruition for the iwi of Ngāti Kuri, the founding peoples of the northernmost peninsula of Aotearoa, New Zealand, in Te Hiku o Te Ika.

Kā Uri Unearthed is where the dreams and aspirations of kuia and kaumātua of Ngāti Kuri come to life in a display of craftsmanship, kaitīakitanga, and purākau. The opening of Kā Uri Unearthed presents itself as a hub, connecting the rest of the country to the unique stories of the real Far North.

Dating back to the early 70s, the art of raranga (weaving) was a source of income for the people of Ngāti Kuri. In collaboration with the Te Ara Whānui research center, Kā Uri is where the creativity and innovativeness of those times are kept alive.

Holding on to the vision of kuia and kaumātua of Ngāti Kuri is the '4th Generation', a group of passionate young people who are working to trace the paths of their ancestors and engaging in environmental management and conservation on their ancestral lands to serve and protect their tāonga species by undertaking pest control operations, taking inventory of local flora and fauna and assisting in whale strandings.

'I'm excited for our people, the ability for us to have confidence in ourselves and the reflection that this building will allow us to do,' says Ngāti Kuri Chair Harry Burkhardt.

Kā Uri Unearthed, formerly where the Ancient Kauri Kingdom once stood, was the home of sustainable, ethically sourced ancient Kauri. The vision for the place has expanded into a facility for visitors and now operates as a cultural center for the Far North.

There are three frameworks to Kā Uri Unearthed.

Kā Uri, which covers the principle of igniting the identity within us, connecting people to the understanding of the significance of this region and its many layers.

Kā Ora represents all aspects of well-being for people, including strategies to ensure a better future for those yet to be born.

Kā Oho represents the care and protection of Ngāti Kuri cultural heritage, places, and events of significance. This domain has a research and knowledge education focus. The understanding of these connections is critical to our cultural continuity through time. 

Kā Uri is now open for business, operating between 8 am and 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.