Ohinemutu
Although described as a paa, this was most probably a kainga that was situated on the west bank and at the mouth of the Utuhina River. A whare named Te Aorauru was used here as a waahi tapu for the management of the affairs of Ngati Tunohopu. A pataka named Potakapoukiore also stood here. This was used, it is said, for the storage of preserved birds and men. See a photograph of Te Pakipaki here.
TaumatahereaThis area is an old pallisaded pa site and was also known as Pukepuke. It contained two importants houses, Kapiti and Te Heke. The paa was attacked at one point by a taua consisting of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa and Tuhourangi who were seeking redress over an adultery that had been committed. The paa defences could not be breached by the attackers and the occupants poured out of the paa to confront their enemy. The invading iwi were severely beaten in the fight that was thereafter known as the battle of Te Wairoa. The battleground of Te Wairoa is the strip of land between Taumataherea and the Utuhina River. At least six enemy were killed here and Ririwai who was a chief of Tuhourangi was taken as a slave and given to Te Iwingaro. The bodies of the slain enemy were taken to Te Haehaenga (the cutting up) which is the block of land upon which the Wharekai Whakaturia stands. Here they were prepared for and delivered to the ovens.
In 1867 Taumataherea was fortified again against the possibility of attack by the Hauhau taua of Te Kooti. At this time, it was given the new name of Parateowhiti.
About the time of Te Roro-o-te-rangi, a localised eruption in Ruapeka Bay caused the subsidence at Muruika. Ruapeka Bay was located to the west of Muruika and included the reclaimed land immediately to the north of Tunohopu. Also, the falling mud and stones killed a number of Ngati Taoi who were just outside of the Taumataherea Pa at the time, although miraculously, none of the people who were inside the pa were hurt. Their safety was attibuted to the recital of a powerful karakia by a tohunga of the time (Hawera and Normanby Star, p. 2).
This is an area immediately adjacent to Tunohopu Marae on the Utuhina side. In days gone by, a sacred tuahu named Putoetoe stood here. The last tohunga to use this tuahu were Korokai, Tuhuatahi and Pango. During the attack at Maketu in March 1836 by Ngati Haua and their rangatira Te Waharoa, the rangatira Haupapa, along with many others was killed. The attackers made off with his body, but Ngati Whakaue managed to recover his head. This head was returned to Ohinemutu and placed on the tuahu at Putoetoe, where it remained for some time prior to burial.
A number of early Pakeha settlers lived at Putoetoe and a special bath (known as Scott's Bath) was also constructed here for the use of the missionary, Thomas Chapman during his visits to the area. A fine, white soft rock was also available here that was excellent for the production of high quality clay pipes. An outcrop of flint also provided flints for muskets of the time.
ParatehoataOne of the two blocks of land upon which Tunohopu stands.
The second block of land that comprises the Marae commonly known as Tunohopu.
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..REFERENCES:
- Stafford, D.M. (1994). Landmarks of Te Arawa: Volume 1: Rotorua. Auckland: Reed Publishing (NZ).
- News and Notes. (1902, December 23). Hawera and Normanby Star, p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2008 from http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19021223.2.4&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=-------en--1----0-all
Teenaa koutou e hoa maa. This page is presently under construction and will eventually contain all sorts of information about our village. To that end, I am asking for your assistance to help me do this. If you have any information about the history of our village, or old photos that you would like to share with the rest of the whaanau, please contact me via the contact page. Many thanks to Don Stafford for his amazing work in producing the 'Landmarks of Te Arawa' volumes and the 'Te Arawa' book which I have referenced heavily for this page.
Thank you for your support whaanau.
Naaku noa, naa
Geoff.
Page last updated 19 Oct 2008
