Our Sacred Mountain
Ko Puketotara te maunga
A family-orientated non-profit initiative
Woven from many threads,
we are one whānau.
Celebrating our multi-layered ancestry, where the strength of the Dragon and the guardianship of the Taniwha intertwine as enduring protectors of our lineage, culture, and tomorrow.
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua
— I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past
Turangawaewae · Standing Place
Our Sacred Pepeha
Reciting the mountains, waters, vessel, and people that ground our family to our ancestral home in Aotearoa.
Our Living River
Ko Waitākere te awa
Our Ocean Canoe
Ko Moekākara te waka
Our Paramount Chieftain
Ko Te Au o Te Whenua te tangata
Our Tribe & Peoples
Ko Te Kawerau ā Maki te iwi
Lineage & whānau
Our Family
History &
Whakapapa
Whakapapa is the genealogical tapestry uniting every living member to those who came before. From timeless antiquity to modern Aotearoa, our story is one of resilience, union, and flourishing community.
Our ancestral roots
From Tiriwa to Te Kawerau ā Maki
Honouring Tiriwa, our eponymous ancestor whose presence shaped the forest and cliffs of the western ranges.
The living trunk
Teraiti & Koringo Joe
The cornerstone union from which our contemporary whānau has flourished.
Antiquity & ancestors Oral traditions
Tiriwa & the early navigators
Centuries before arrival on European charts, the sacred Moekākara waka established our people upon the bountiful soils and estuaries of the northern coasts.
Chieftainship & Te Whenua Waitākere Heartland
Te Au o Te Whenua & Te Kawerau ā Maki
Establishing enduring guardianship over the rugged western coastline, valleys, and sacred forests that shelter our whānau name.
The living trunk 20th century legacy
Teraiti & Koringo Joe
Our adored grandparents who created the loving foundation that supports every grandchild, cousin, auntie, uncle, and descendant today.
Two pillars of strength
The Taniwha & The Dragon
Our identity draws deeply from two ancient civilisations, creating a vibrant bridge of mutual respect, spiritual guardianship, and love.
Aotearoa guardian
The Taniwha
Protector of the waters, rivers, and coastal inlets of Te Kawerau ā Maki. In Māori understanding, taniwha represent kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of our natural world, watching over travellers and safeguarding sacred tapu.
- Protection of our ancestral lands and coast
- Guidance through life's storms and turbulent seas
Chinese heritage
The Dragon (Lóng · 龍)
A revered symbol of nobility, strength, fortune, and perseverance. In Chinese cosmology, the dragon brings rain, prosperity, and cosmic harmony, honouring the hard work and resilience of our forebears who ventured overseas.
- Longevity, wisdom, and filial devotion
- Our Chinese immigrant ancestors' enduring resolve
“Dedicated to our loved ones — passed, present, and future.”
The Living Mission of Whānau Joe
Remembering together
A living memory of Whānau Joe
Dedicated to our loved ones — passed, present, and future.
Whānau gatherings
Reunions, wānanga, and cultural sharing days connecting youth with kaumātua and elders.
Explore eventsDigital whakapapa archive
Preserving archival photographs, certificates, oral recordings, and genealogical charts for future generations.
Explore resourcesCommunity benevolence
Educational grants, whānau hardship support, and community cultural restoration initiatives.
Our purposeWhānau connect
Questions or whakapapa to add?
Are you a descendant, relative, or community friend? Send an enquiry, submit a memory, or request genealogical branch information.
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