Awekura - Maps

Awekura is the name given to this blog and podcast series that showcases treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, presented by our library specialists. 

Awekura is a kupu drawn from Māori weaponry, particularly the taiaha. It refers to the arero, the tongue of the taiaha, which is adorned with kura, red feathers. The term reflects both the physical beauty and their deeper spiritual and narrative significance. 

The Heritage Maps collection is an essential resource for researchers, historians, and cartographic enthusiasts. Many of the 10,000 strong map collection items are available to explore on KURA under Heritage Maps. Because their formats vary widely, maps require careful storage; at Auckland Libraries, they are housed in cabinets, tubes, drawers, and specially designed folders. Over her years as Maps Librarian, Katrina helped catalogue the collection and played a key role in establishing the heritage maps presence on our digital platform, KURA. 

In her last week of work, Katrina Laan, the Maps Librarian of eight years, shared her five favourite maps from a collection. So what did she choose as her top five? You can listen to her discuss these in the podcast below.

 

Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · Heritage maps with Katrina Laan

1. Maris Pacifici  

Ortelius' Mare Pacifici, the first printed map of the Pacific Ocean. This map was first issued in 1590, in the first modern atlas, 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum', based upon Mercator's world map of 1569, with details from 25 Portugese manuscript maps of Bartolomeo de Lasso. The map in Auckland Libraries collection was printed in 1601. 

Image: Maris Pacific. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 9588.

Acquired from an American dealer, this is one of the oldest maps that Auckland Libraries hold. Abraham Ortelius was a renowned Dutch cartographer and we are fortunate to have another special atlas he produced in our rare book collection – Epitome theatri Orteliani published in 1595.   

Image: Snippet of Maris Pacifici. Map 9588.

 2. Airey’s Auckland and environs : Sheet no.4 

Cadastral maps document land ownership, property boundaries, and mark changes over time. This 1924 sheet is part of a nine‑part cadastral map series of Auckland and the North Shore, compiled and drawn by R. C. Airey . Robert Airey, the draughtsman, was the brother of Willis Airey, a distinguished historian, after whom the Willis Airey Library at Auckland University history dept was named. 

G.T. Bloomfield in Maps of Auckland: An outline guide describes them as ‘some of the most detailed and attractive cadastral maps ever produced.'  They are classified as NZMS 16 - NZ Cadastral Maps: Town Series, a designation added later and not printed on the originals. While nine sheets were published between 1924 and 1931, Auckland Libraries also holds black and white photographs of what appear to be the original drawings for other Auckland maps that were never issued. We also have a combined copy of Sheets 4 and 5, formerly part of the Leys Institute Library, received in May 2025.   

Image: Auckland and environs : sheet no.4. 1924. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 77.

Image: Auckland and environs: sheet no. 4. Map 77.

3. Tourist map of New Zealand  

Marking 125 years of the New Zealand Tourism Department, this 1946 tourist map is a clear and detailed post‑war publication designed to help revitalise the tourism sector after WWII. It highlights major roads, railways, scenic stops, and recommended destinations. 

The benefit of digitized map views on Kura is being able to zoom in to explore the fine print. The map is full of helpful guidance for travellers navigating Aotearoa in the mid‑20th century and wonderful design details.

Image: Tourist Map of New Zealand. 1946. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 9091.

4. Chart of the entrance to Kaipara Harbour, drawn by Captain Thomas Wing. 

One of the real treasures of the collection, is this manuscript hand drawn map by Thomas Wing. This cartographic genuis drew the map while on a trip, between 1835 to 1836 in the Kaipara area, taking Wesleyan missionaries down to Raglan and Kawhia. It is richly annotated and was donated to the Old Colonists Museum by Wing’s daughters in 1932. 

Image: Chart of the entrance to Kaipara Harbour. 1836. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 4613.

Other treasured maps by Captain Wing were:  

Map 4612 Sketch of Kawia on the West Coast 1836.  

Map 4605 Sketch of Whaingaroa Harbour, 1836.  

5. Auckland Fire Insurance maps 

Another addition to the collection during Katrina's tenure was the Auckland Fire Insurance maps. These maps from 1915 cover the Auckland CBD and some industrial premises. Fire insurance maps show the footprints of buildings and other structures, their occupiers and use (garage, bakery, dwelling, etc.), some construction details, and other information (gas, electricity etc) and aspects of building relevant to fire insurance, at 40 feet to 1 inch scale. These maps were created to help insurers locate properties and to determine the level of risk involved in insuring properties against fire. 

Katrina reflects on the cataloging process, "I got to know these 58 maps very well as I went over every street and listed the business shown in each building. Such an interesting snapshot of the city in the early twentieth century – so many tobacconists, Chinese laundries and boot makers and cobblers. I also often checked the maps against photos from the collections, and old directories." 

Image: Auckland Block no. 16. 1916. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Map 9128r.

Image: Auckland Block no. 21. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 9128w.

What are some of your favourite maps? If you dont have one, browse through our Heritage Maps section on Kura to find some hidden treasures and rare atlases.