HĪTORI O TE MARAE
Our whare ‘Takihiku’ is named after the youngest child of Raukawa and Turongoihi. His tuakana are Rereahu (who was the eldest), Whakatere, and then his sister Kurawari. According to kōrero, Raukawa was quite fond of his potiki, so much so that while Takihiku was a baby, the hiku portion (from the pito to the tip of the tail) of the tuna was often allocated to him. As a result, descendants of Takihiku have quietly been referred to as ‘Te Hiku o Raukawa’ (The Tail of Raukawa) which is symbolic of the fact that tuna survive by the strength of their tails. |  | |||||
| Takihiku grew up between Rangiātea at Mangaorongo, Rurunui, Kōrakonui, Panetapu and Tauranga-ā-kohu. His pā there is named Ruataikawa. He married Maikukutara, the younger twin sister of Maikukutea (married to Takihiku’s brother Whakatere). Together they had four famed fighting sons: Tamatehura, Wairangi, Upokoiti and Pipito. It has been told that on one occasion, the ‘brothers’ helped their cousin, and son of Kurawari (Whaita) avenge the death of his sister Koroukore. Ngāti Kahupungapunga were held responsible for her murder and consequently hunted from the lands at Te Horonga (Te Awamutu), Arowhena, Wharepūhunga, Waotū, Putaaruru, Tokoroa, Atiamuri, Horohoro and Whakamaru to west Taupō. | ||||||
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The original whare tupuna stood at Aotearoa-Wharepūhunga and was burnt to ashes in a scrub fire. The second Takihiku was built down the line at Kōputaroa (carved by Hokowhitu McGregor who had been under the apprentieship of Huhi Takarei and Ngapu while carving Hoturoa (1888) our whare tupuna at Aotearoa). Sadly it was neglected and fell into disrepair. The third Takihiku at Rāwhitiroa-Owairaka was carved primarily by Te Motu Heta who had apparently also been under the same tutelage as Hokowhitu. Initially Takihiku was to be built below Tūtūhīnau, where the old Tunoho homestead is, but because of the prolonged debate over location, Marerahi Paraone saw to it being built at Rāwhitiroa, where Marerahi had lived since the late 1800’s after moving from Aotearoa with his elder brother, Kohipō Paraone and a younger brother Rangiwawahia to fence the whenua. One of Marerahi’s daughters, Waiarani wed Te Wharetakaanui Heta, brother of Te Motu Heta. | ||||||
 | The rākau for Takihiku were dragged from the ngāhere at Wharepūhunga and the house was originally going to be bigger but the tree that was to form the tāhūhū broke – this was seen as a sign to keep the whare ‘humble’ and for the reverence to remain with Hoturoa to hold. Takihiku is carved in the Raukawa style of the Aotearoa/Wharepūhunga carving school that feature large eyes and an almost totem-pole like appearance as defining characteristics. What’s more are the five fingered figures which are said to represent a prophecy about the Kīngitanga. This is also significant of Hoturoa and other houses of this style. 1929 saw the opening of our whare graced by the presence of Kīngi Te Rata. Te Uira (Pita Manaia's mother) was the puhi for the ceremony. Before then the only whare at Rāwhitiroa was the kāuta which dates back to the 1880’s. | |||||
Ko Peketahi te Taniwha.One of the two Taniwha depicted on our Pou-haki (flag-pole) is the famed taniwha Peketahi, kaitiaki of our awa Puniu. From the starting of the awa at the foot-hills close to Wharepūhunga all the way to where the Puniu flows into Waipā, is his domain. The mauri of the awa is in his care, as are the tuna, who are also his pononga or servants. Some of us acknowledge Peketahi’s mana when taking tuna from our awa for kai; asking Peketahi for permission to fish for them and for him to bless us with a good catch. There are differing kōrero about Peketahi. In one story he is described as an ariki of all taniwha, who live beneath the earth in a subterranean world. According to our kaumātua, Peketahi’s home is where the Owairaka stream meets Puniu. He has three known disguises: a pirairaka or fantail, kohu (mist) and like other taniwha, he sometimes takes the appearance of a log. The last such sighting of Peketahi in this form was during the ‘big flood of 1958’. According to Aunty Uru (Te Uruwhakarewa Onehi nee Tunoho), her and her parents Beasil & Aneta Tunoho and others of the whānau were standing on the porch of their homestead watching flotsam, sheep & cows being carried past in the swift currents of the swollen waters of Puniu. They saw a log causing a frothy wake, speeding up-stream against the strength of the current. Koro Beasil said to Nanny Neta, ‘E mā! Karangatia!’ Nanny Neta then sent karanga out to Peketahi as mihi to pay due respect to his mana and tapu. Koro Beasil then told the whānau that Peketahi had appeared to let the iwi know that soon the flood-waters would subside and all would be safe. However, Aunty Uru was not safe from Koro. who gave her a hiding for swimming in the flooded Puniu to save some lambs! | ||||||
Page last updated 21 Nov 2008
