Kawhia Harbour
Encyclopedia
Kawhia Harbour is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea
coast of the Waikato
region of New Zealand
's North Island
. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke
and Aotea Harbour
, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton
. Kawhia is part of the Otorohanga District Council
And shares its Mayor and MP.
The settlement of Kawhia is located on the northern coast of the inlet, and was an important port in early colonial New Zealand.
The area of Kawhia comprises 40 to 50 acres (202,343 m²) and is the town block that was owned by the New Zealand
Government. The government bought it off the Europeans
in 1880 "not from the original Maori owners, but from the a European who claimed ownership in payment of money owed by another European"
, and is known in Māori lore as the final resting-place of the ancestral waka
(canoe) Tainui.
Kawhia is the final resting place of the Tainui Waka, where soon on arrival, captain Hoturoa made it first priority to establish a Whare Wananga/sacred school of learning which was named Ahurei Ahurei is situated at the summit of the sacred hill behind Kawhia’s seaside marae – Maketu Marae.
The base of Ahurei is now where The Tainui Waka is buried, and its placement and burial there was done by Hoturoa himself, and other members of the iwi.
The Tainui waka was buried, and Hoturoa marked out the Waka with two limestone pillars which he blessed. Firstly, there is “Hani, (Hani-a-te waewae¬kimi-atu) which is on the higher ground and marked the prow of the canoe” Marking the stern of the canoe, Hoturoa placed the symbol of Puna, the spirit-goddess of that creation story. “In full it is named Puna-whakatupu-tangata, and represents female fertility, the spring or source of humanity”. It is said that a pure woman who touches this stone, will be given the gift of a child, and become pregnant. There have been cases of women using puna when they have had difficulty conceiving a child of their own.
It is now that Hani and Puna mark the resting place of the Tainui Waka, and Kawhia holds the honour of that sacred keepsake, with such history. Ahurei overlooks Kawhia’s harbour and Maketu Marae which provides its people with history of its own.
The Main meeting house, Auaukiterangi, is named after Hoturoa’s father who was a high chief (ariki) and was built and opened in 1962. The eldest and most prestigious meeting house that was first built on Maketu Marae is Te Ruruhi (the Old Lady) which was used as the dining hall until the erection of Te Tini O Tainui. This two-storied dining hall was built in 1986 in order to cater for the numerous numbers that visit for occasions such as annual poukai, tangi and hui.
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
coast of the Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke
Ruapuke
Ruapuke is a small farming community in the Waikato region on the slopes of rocky mountains, between Raglan and Kawhia in New Zealand. It comprises a handful of families, some of whom have lived there for many generations. The residents, predominantly sheep and cattle farmers, all traverse Ruapuke...
and Aotea Harbour
Aotea Harbour
Aotea Harbour is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located between Raglan Harbour to the north and Kawhia Harbour to the south, 30 kilometres southwest of Hamilton....
, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. Kawhia is part of the Otorohanga District Council
Otorohanga
Otorohanga is a north King Country town at the southern end of the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 53 kilometres south of Hamilton and 18 kilometres north of Te Kuiti, on the Waipa River...
And shares its Mayor and MP.
The settlement of Kawhia is located on the northern coast of the inlet, and was an important port in early colonial New Zealand.
The area of Kawhia comprises 40 to 50 acres (202,343 m²) and is the town block that was owned by the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Government. The government bought it off the Europeans
New Zealand European
The term New Zealand European refers to New Zealanders of European descent who identify as New Zealand Europeans rather than some other ethnic group...
in 1880 "not from the original Maori owners, but from the a European who claimed ownership in payment of money owed by another European"
History
The harbour area was the birthplace of prominent Māori warrior chief Te RauparahaTe Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
, and is known in Māori lore as the final resting-place of the ancestral waka
Waka (canoe)
Waka are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes up to long...
(canoe) Tainui.
Kawhia is the final resting place of the Tainui Waka, where soon on arrival, captain Hoturoa made it first priority to establish a Whare Wananga/sacred school of learning which was named Ahurei Ahurei is situated at the summit of the sacred hill behind Kawhia’s seaside marae – Maketu Marae.
The base of Ahurei is now where The Tainui Waka is buried, and its placement and burial there was done by Hoturoa himself, and other members of the iwi.
The Tainui waka was buried, and Hoturoa marked out the Waka with two limestone pillars which he blessed. Firstly, there is “Hani, (Hani-a-te waewae¬kimi-atu) which is on the higher ground and marked the prow of the canoe” Marking the stern of the canoe, Hoturoa placed the symbol of Puna, the spirit-goddess of that creation story. “In full it is named Puna-whakatupu-tangata, and represents female fertility, the spring or source of humanity”. It is said that a pure woman who touches this stone, will be given the gift of a child, and become pregnant. There have been cases of women using puna when they have had difficulty conceiving a child of their own.
It is now that Hani and Puna mark the resting place of the Tainui Waka, and Kawhia holds the honour of that sacred keepsake, with such history. Ahurei overlooks Kawhia’s harbour and Maketu Marae which provides its people with history of its own.
The Main meeting house, Auaukiterangi, is named after Hoturoa’s father who was a high chief (ariki) and was built and opened in 1962. The eldest and most prestigious meeting house that was first built on Maketu Marae is Te Ruruhi (the Old Lady) which was used as the dining hall until the erection of Te Tini O Tainui. This two-storied dining hall was built in 1986 in order to cater for the numerous numbers that visit for occasions such as annual poukai, tangi and hui.