Ngāti Rōrā history recorded and shared for all

The stories and history of areas and landmarks of cultural significance to Ngāti Rōrā are being shared with the community and the world.

Nine areas and the history relating to them have been documented, recorded and pictorialised on large storyboards installed along the Mangaokewa Stream walkway in Te Kūiti.

Each site is part of the cultural heritage of Ngāti Rōrā and tells the story of the area and its importance to their people.

Starting at the top of Motakiora and finishing at Mangaokewa Reserve in Te Kūiti, people are treated to a full immersion of each narrative. Each story has been captured in Te Reo Māori and English in text, audio and visual using photos and drone footage captured on video.

Three year project

The project to bring to life the important narratives was a three-year undertaking between Waitomo District Council and Ngāti Rōrā, and also included a large upgrade of the walking track through Te Kūiti.

Previously overgrown, the track forms part of the Te Araroa Trail, which also incorporates Motakiora and Brook Park and follows the stream from Te Kumi Road through to the existing river track.

The internationally recognised Te Araroa Trail is a continuous 3000km walking track traversing the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

Chief Executive Ben Smit says the storyboards weave a beautiful story of areas of cultural significance to Ngāti Rōrā along the Mangaokewa Stream, and their unveiling is the icing on the cake in what has been a rewarding community project for Council.

“It has been a pleasure working with Ngāti Rōrā. Not only has it been wonderful to see the historical narratives come to life, but it has also strengthened our relationship. I look forward to continuing to work with Ngāti Rōrā on other future projects.”

Welcome to the location of Rōrā’s pā site.

The ancestor Rōrā, his wife Kuramōnehu, and their people lived here in the 1600s.

As you can see, this would’ve been a prime location for a traditional pā (settlement), with panoramic views of the land below.

Rōrā was a young man when he lived here. His reputation as a warrior and leader was growing. By all accounts, Rōrā and his people lived here peacefully.

According to Ngāti Rōrā tradition, Rōrā’s wife Kuramōnehu, whilst visiting her people in the Mōkau area, is said to have had a liaison with a man called Tuatini.

Upon Kuramōnehu and her party’s return to Mōtakiora, Rōrā noticed a change in his wife’s behaviour. When confronted, Kuramōnehu confessed to her adultery. Rōrā immediately killed Tuatini and Kuramōnehu and her people fled to a neighboring pā site.

The next day, Ngāti Hia returned to Mōtakiora and killed Rōrā. Upon learning of his son’s tragic end, Rōrā’s father, Maniapoto, sent a war party led by Tūwhakahekeao to avenge Rōrā’s death.

After this incident, the pā site was abandoned. This site remains a wāhi tapu or sacred place for the descendants of Rōrā.

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Nau mai ki te wahi e tu nei te pa o Rora.

Nohia ai te whenua nei e te tupuna, e Rora raua ko tana hoa rangatira a

Kuramonehu.

E marama ana te kite he wahi pai tenei hei whakatu pa, ina hoki he whanui

rawa te t irohanga atu ki te whenua i raro iho.

He taitama noa iho a Rora nona e noho ana i konei, na wai, ka hau tona

rongo hei toa. E ai ki te korero, i tau ta ratou ko tana rahi noho mai i te

whenua nei.

Hei ta Ngati Rora, i a Kuramonehu i Mokau, ka moe ia i tetahi tane, ko Tuatini

tona ingoa.

I te hokitanga mai o Kuramonehu ratou ko tana rahi ki Motakiora nei, ka kite

a Rora e rereke ana te ahua o tana hoa rangatira. Katahi a Kuramonehu ka

whaki atu i tana mahi puremu. Ka tahuri a Rora ki te whakamate i a Tuatini.

Ka purere atu a Kuramonehu ratou ko tana rahi ki pa ke, patata atu.

I te ra o muri mai, ka tae tetahi ope taua ki Motakiora. Ka whakamatengia e

ratou a Rora. Ka tae te rongo mo tona kohurutanga ki tana papa, ki a

Maniapoto, ka tonongia e ia tetahi ope taua ki te ranaki i te mate o Rora. Ka

arahina atu ra te ope taua nei e Tuwhakahekeao.

No muri mai, ka whakarerea te pa.

No taua wa, a, moroki noa nei, kua kiia te whenua nei e Ngati Rora, he tapu.