Our People
Whakatōhea trace their descent from the Nukutere and Mātaatua waka. Ancestral lines are traced back to Tutāmure and Muriwai. The following is an outline of Whakatōhea history, based on traditional stories and historical documents.
Tarawa
Tarawa is an early and significant Whakatōhea ancestor often described as both god and a taniwha. The name Ōpōtiki is derived from Tarawa whereby his two pet fish guided him from Hawaiki to Waiotahe beach at Paerata. Upon landing in his waka, Te Arautauta, he placed his pets in a spring at Paerata, which become known as O-Potiki-Mai-Tawhiti (the pets from afar). While the area occupied by the township has become known as Ōpōtiki, the traditional name for this area is Pa-kowhai.
Te Wakanui and Pane-Nehu
Another important event in Whakatōhea history is the landing of the Nukutere waka at Te Rangi, east of Opape. Among them were Tauturangi and his wife Tauaterangi who formed the tribe Te Wakanui. This name persisted for some eight generations until the time of Tutāmure, when the name Pane-Nehu appears.
Tutāmure
Tutāmure was named by his famous uncle Kahungunu in relation to an incident involving a tāmure (snapper) in the Tauranga area. Tutāmure grew to become a great warrior and leader of Whakatōhea. A significant event in our history was when Tutāmure avenged the death of his sister Taneroa in the battle of Maunga-a-kahia on the Mahia Peninsula. It is in this battle that the name Pane-Nehu appears.
Mataatua
Following early migrations, individuals returned to Hawaiki advising of the attractions of Aotearoa. One such person was Irakewa who, returning to Hawaiki, married Wekanui. Their union was blessed with the children Toroa, Muriwai and Puhikaiariki.
Toroa, with his siblings (including half brother, Taneatua) and some of their children set off for Aotearoa in the Mataatua waka, which eventally landed at Kakahoroa (Whakatane). Before the Mataatua left Hawaiki, Irakewa told his children of Kakahoroa and that there was a cave there that should be left for Muriwai. It was from this cave that both Whakatane and Whakatōhea were named.
Muriwai
The story goes that when the Mataatua waka arrived at Kakahoroa, the men went to survey the interior for settlement and left Muriwai in charge of the womens waka. Whilst the men were away, the river being tidal, started to come in and the waka become bouyant with the lapping of the rising and falling tide. Muriwai was resting in the cave when the call was given to her that the incoming tide had refloated the waka. After several calls, Muriwai finally replied that in adding my assistance to haul the canoe in from the coming tide , I must stand up and act like a man, thus the name 'Whakatane" - to stand up and act like a man. Also, because it took several calls for Muriwai to respond, the people calling viewed her as a stubborn person, hence the term "Whakatōhea" - which means to be stubborn.
While Whakatōhea descends from Muriwai, Ngati Awa descends from Toroa and Tūhoe from Taneatua. Following a dispute with Toroa, Puhi took the Mataatua waka to the far north. His descendants are known as Nga Puhi today.
Muriwai settled with her husband, Tamatea Matangi at Ohiwa. In her old age she returned to Whakatane to inhibit the cave that still bears her name, at the foot of Kohi Point, where she was consulted for her wisdom by priests and tohunga.
Rohe Boundaries
Evidence given by Te Hoera Horokai and Heremia Hoera at Opotiki on 14th July 1920, also describes the geographical boundaries of Whakatōhea.
"Commencing at Pakihi, at the mouth of the river along the sea coast to the mouth of the Waiotahe Stream to the mouth of the Ohiwa Harbour to Tehoro (a hill) and then turning inland southwards to Puhikoko (a hill) by straight line to Pukemoremore (a hill) then to Mapouriki (a hill) at one time a fighting pa. Then descending to Waimana Stream, Mapouriki being on the bank; following the Waimana Stream toward it's source at Tautautahi (a hill) along the banks to the mouth of the Parau stream; then following Parau Stream to Tangata-e-roha (a hill) on to Kaharoa (an old settlement); from Kaharoa to TaHarakeke a ridge leading towards Maungapohatu to Maungatapere (a hill) descending into the Motu River to Kaitaura falls to Peketutu (a rock in the river that was an old crossing); leaving the river and up a ridge to Whakararonga (a hill); following the hill tops until it reaches Tipi O Houmea (a peak) descending towards Makomako (another hill) till it crosses Takaputahi Stream to Ngaupoko Tangata (a mountain) following the ridge to Kamakama (a mound resting place); along the ridge to Oroi (a trig station) then turning seawards to Te Rangi on the sea coast (a stone visible on the sea coast at low tide); then along the sea coast to the mouth of the Opape Stream, to Awahou Stream to Tirohanga and back to Pakihi."
In addition, the battle of Maraetotara by Te Rupe of Whakatōhea resulted in this area falling under the mana of Whakatōhea. Accordingly the Maraetotara Stream is still claimed as the western boundary of Whakatōhea. Whakatōhea strongly considers that its ancestoral rohe extends to the waters off our coast - Te Moananui ā Toi. This is in recognition of our traditional fishing grounds and the use of the area for transport and other traditional activities.
Map outlining the boundaries of Whakatōhea.
