The following information is about the renaming of Auckland City Libraries as: "Auckland City Libraries - “Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero".
Background Since 1996 I have gathered information from Māori customers of Auckland City Libraries in respect of determining what is a truly Māori understanding of libraries and librarianship. Prior to my arrival at Auckland City Libraries the name "Ngā Whare Pukapuka o Tāmaki" was adopted.
General opinion reflected the positive initiative to identify this library in English and Māori, particularly given the specialist services and nature of some of the collections. However, the use of transliteration was seen as simplistic and limited.
Refurbishment Since the refurbishment of the Central City Library began over three years ago there have been several significant developments for Māori staff and customers of Auckland City libraries:
The establishment and enhancement of a Māori collection - “Te Kōhinga Matua” The establishment of a Heritage Floor and collections - “Te Taumata o ngā Taonga tuku iho” The establishment of a special space called - "Whare Wānanga" The establishment of a specialised Maori reference team - Te Rōpu Rātonga Māori The establishment of "The Treaty at Work" training programme - for all staff at Auckland City Libraries.
Tamaki Pātaka Korero The notion of a Pātaka or food storehouse as a metaphor for libraries has been suggested since I started in my position. The analogy of feeding the minds of people and the historical and cultural importance of the Pataka as a central facility of the marae, are significant from a Māori point of view.
The role of language, stories or kōrero in the traditional Māori transferral of information is undisputed. Therefore, the combination of all of these concepts reveals "Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero". This is inclusive of all iwi in the country, whilst describing this locality and therefore Ngāti Whātua.
Another value of this title is that it is not a transliteration or a translation into Māori of a Non Māori Concept. It is a purely Māori perspective on information and, therefore, on libraries.
Ngāti Whātua The recent temporary deposit of Ngāti Whātua material form the Wai 312 claim for South Kaipara highlights the special Ngāti Whātua relationship which exists with Auckland City Libraries. The relationships developed with Orakei Marae, Sir Hugh Kawharu, Danny Tumahai and Takutai Wikiriwhi, Ani Pihema, and others are often acknowledged.
Also, Manos Nathan's (Te Roroa/Ngāti Whātua ) development of a Ngāti Whātua artistic and conceptual representation of the prophecy "He aha te Hau" and the display of two photographic reproductions of the Lindauer portraits of Te Hira Te Kawau and Paora Tuhaere (gifted to the library by the Auckland Art Gallery upon the official opening of the Heritage Floor in 1997) underscores the importance of a sound relationship with Tangāta Whenua. The continual development of the libraries internet site will happen in close consultation with Ngāti Whātua .
Conclusion Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero provides a significant external portrayal of all that has been done and will be initiated in the future in terms of enlivening the Treaty of Waitangi in Auckland City Libraries. | 
