Cultural Walkway Storyboards

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.”

Rōrā and his Pā

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.

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.

Motakiora

The area before you is called Mōtakiora.

Mōtakiora is historically significant to Ngāti Rōrā, the tangata whenua, or home people of this area.

According to Ngāti Rōrā, the hilltop before you was once the location of a traditional fortified pā (settlement) where the ancestor Rōrā and his people once lived in the 1600s.

Rōrā was the youngest son of the eponymous ancestor Maniapoto and Paparauwhare.

Mōtakiora provided the perfect vantage point with undisturbed 180-degree views from the north, to the east, and through to the south. Given the steep terrain, the rear of Mōtakiora was considered impenetrable to advancing war parties from the west.

The ancestor Rōrā is said to have lost his life in a revenge attack on Mōtakiora, thus adding further reverence for Ngāti Rōrā.

Ngāti Rōrā invites you to enjoy the walk to the summit, where you will find more information about Rōrā’s pā site and the tragic event that took place here many hundreds of years ago.

Also, please take advantage of the fun activities scattered throughout the park, including the Disc Golf course, or take in the native and exotic trees.

Ko te whenua kei mua i a koe, ko Motakiora.

He wahi whakahirahira ki te tangata whenua o te takiwa nei, ki a Ngati Rora.

E ai ki a Ngati Rora, i noho te tupuna a Rora ratou ko tana rahi, ki te tihi o te

hiwi kei to aroaro, i nga tau o te 1600.

Ko Rora te tama a Maniapoto raua ko Paparauwhare.

Katahi te wahi whakahirahira ko Motakiora, na te pai o te tirohanga atu ki te

whenua i te raki, ki te uru, whakawhiti atu ki te tonga. He pera rawa te

whanui o te tirohanga atu i tona t ihi. He tupoupou te taha whakamuri o

Motakiora, kaore i taea e nga ope taua o te uru te whakaeke mai.

E ai ki te korero, i mate te tupuna a Rora ki runga o Motakiora, he

ranakitanga mate te take.

Kia matareka to piki ki te tihi o Motakiora e pai ai to panui i te whanuitanga

atu o nga korero mo te pa i noho ai a Rora, me te parekura nui i pupu ake i

konei e hia rau tau ki muri nei.

E kuhu hoki ki nga mahi parekareka i te whenua e hora nei, pera i te whiu

kopae. Whikoingia ranei te ara uru rakau Maori.

Te Kūiti Pā

Welcome to Te Kūiti Pā

The ornate carved meeting house you see before you is Te Tokanganui a noho, home to the people of Ngāti Rōrā and a principal marae of Ngāti Maniapoto.

It was constructed in the early 1870s by Māori Prophet Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Tūruki as a gift to Ngāti Maniapoto for sheltering him and his followers for more than a decade.

Te Tokanganui a noho has been moved a number of times. Originally, it stood at a place called Tumutumu and was relocated here to its current site in circa 1900.

The house has had a number of names over the years, such as Rāwaho or Waho (outsider), which, according to some, refers to Te Kooti, who was of Ngāti Maru descent, a subtribe of Rongowhakaata from the East Coast. However, other accounts suggest that Rāwaho refers to an ancestor called Rāwaho o Te Rangi.

Another name given to the house was Tokangamutu. It is said Ngāti Rōrā Paramount Chief Taonui Hīkaka II chose the current name, Te Tokanganui a noho.

The name Te Tokanganui a noho appears in a famous whakatauākī or proverb:

He aha koe i haere mai ai i te rourou iti a haere,

tē noho atu ai i te tokanganuianoho?

Why did you come with the small basket of the traveller?

Better if you had stayed away with the large basket of the home dweller

Te Tokanganui a noho is the oldest traditional meeting house still in use in Aotearoa today.

In 2022, hundreds gathered to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

With a rich and long history, Te Tokanganui a noho is of national significance and remains a precious taonga (treasure) of Ngāti Rōrā and Ngāti Maniapoto.

Nau mai ki Te Kuiti Pa.

Ko te whare tupuna kei mua i a koe, ko te ukaipo tonu o te hapu o Ngati

Rora, ara, ko Te Tokanganui a Noho. Koinei tetahi o nga marae matua o

Ngati Maniapoto.

Hangaia mai ai te whare nei e te poropiti Maori, e Te Kooti Arikirangi Te

Turuki i nga tau o te 1870 hei koha ki a Ngati Maniapoto mo ta ratau

whakamarumaru i a Te Kooti ratou ko ana apataki.

I roto i nga tau, kua hunuku haere te whare nei. I tona hanganga

tuatahitanga mai, i tu ke te whare i Tumutumu, katahi ka hunukungia ki te

pito whenua e tu nei te whare inaianei, i te takiwa o te 1900.

E hia nei nga ingoa kua tapangia ki runga ki te whare i nga tau, pera i a

Rawaho, ko Waho ranei. Hei ta etahi, he mea tiki atu te ingoa nei hei tohu i a

Te Kooti, he rawaho ke no Ngati Maru, no Rongowhakaata. Heoi, tera ano

etahi e mea ana, i tapangia kengia te whare ki te ingoa o Rawaho, hei tohu i

te tupuna, i a Rawaho o Te Rangi.

Ko Tokangamutu tetahi ingoa ano i tapa ki runga ki te whare. E ai ki te korero, na

te rangatira o Ngati Rora, na Taonui Hikaka te tuarua te whare i whakaingoa ko

Te Tokanganui a Noho.

Rongongia ai te ingoa nei i te whakatauaki rongonui e ki ana:

He aha koe i haere mai ai i te rourou iti a haere, tē noho atu ai i te

tokanganuianoho?

Ko Te Tokanganui a Noho te whare tupuna tawhito katoa i te motu e

whakamahingia tonungia ana.

I te tau rua mano rua tekau ma rua ka whakarauika mai te hakerekere ki

runga o Te Kuiti Pa ki te whakanui i te kotahi rau e rima tekau tau o te whare.

He taonga whakahirahira te whare nei ki te motu, matua ra ki te hapu o

Ngati Rora me te iwi whanui tonu o Ngati Maniapoto.

Waka Landing

He Wāhi Herenga Waka

Off in the distance was an ancestral waka landing. Before the horse and cart era, waka or traditional canoes were used by early Māori to transport people and goods up and down the Mangaōkewa stream.

During the 17 and 1800s, this area was a hive of activity and a popular meeting place. It was also the site of a traditional settlement and pā tuna (weir for catching eels).

The source of the Mangaōkewa can be found at a place called Pekepeke (also known as Waimoanaiti) in Rereahu. The Mangaōkewa flows into the Mangapū River near Hangatiki and joins the Waipā in Ōtorohanga.

According to Ngāti Rōrā (the local people), Mangaōkewa takes its name from the ancestor Tama-āio, who was a master sculptor and carver. His preferred material was the kewa or obsidian stone found in this stream. Such was Tama-āio’s notoriety for carving with kewa or obsidian he was given the nickname Kewa. Hence, the name of this river Mangaōkewa or The stream of Kewa.

The path of the Mangaōkewa has changed significantly with the development of the Te Kūiti township.

Mangaōkewa is sacred to Ngāti Rōrā, as it was once an important food source, a highway, a meeting place, and a place where traditional rituals were performed. It is said that Māori Prophet Te Kooti ordained the first leaders and baptised followers of his Ringatū faith in the waters of Mangaōkewa.

We invite you to enjoy the walk along the Mangaōkewa stream.

Kei tua atu ra ko te wahi i tau ai nga waka i nga ra o mua. No mua mai o te

hoiho me te piringa kata, ko te waka ke i whakamahia e te Maori hei kawe i

te tangata, i te rawa ano hoki ma Te Mangaokewa.

Ina te powaiwai o te wahi nei i nga rautau o te tekau ma whitu, tekau ma

waru ano - he wahi tutakitaki. He pa tuna hoki i konei i tera wa.

Ko te putake o Te Mangaokewa, kei Pekepeke, e mohiongia ana hoki ko

Waimoanaiti, i te whenua o Rereahu. Ka rere Te Mangaokewa ki roto o Te

Mangapu patata ki Hangatiki, ka hono atu ai ki Te Waipa, ki Otorohanga ra

ano.

E ai ki te iwi kainga, ki a Ngati Rora, he mea tiki atu te ingoa o Te

Mangaokewa i te tupuna, tohunga whakaairo hoki, i a Tama-aio. Ko tana

tino kowhatu hei mahi whakaairo, ko te kewa ka kitea ake i Te Mangaokewa.

Ka hau te rongo mo tana whakamahi i te kowhatu nei, ka karangangia ia ko

Kewa. Na kona ka puta ko te ingoa, ko Te Manga o Kewa.

Kua rereke rawa atu te rere o te wai, me te ahua o Te Mangaokewa no te

hanganga o te taone o Te Kuiti.

He tapu nga wai o Te Mangaokewa ki a Ngati Rora. He pataka kai i ona ra, he ara matua, he wahi tutakitaki, he wai whakaika. Tera hoki te korero I whakawahia, i iriirihia hoki e te poropiti Maori e Te Kooti nga Rangatira tuatahi rawa o Te Haahi Ringatu i nga wai o Te Mangaokewa.

Tena, kia parekareka to whikoi i te taha o Te Mangaokewa nei

Original pā site

Off in the distance is said to have been the original site where the carved meeting house Te Tokanganui a noho once stood.

It was constructed in the early 1870s by Māori Prophet Te Kooti and his followers as a gift to the people of Ngāti Maniapoto.

After fleeing the Chatham Islands in the mid-1860s, Te Kooti and his followers were being pursued by Government troops. A £5,000 bounty had been placed on Te Kooti’s head.

During that period, this part of the country was known as Te Rohe Pōtae or King Country. It was an independent state where European settlers, including Government troops, were not permitted access without permission from the Māori King Tāwhiao and Maniapoto Chiefs.

Te Kooti knew he would be safe amongst the people of Ngāti Maniapoto. So, after a number of requests and agreeing to lay down arms and embrace peace, Te Kooti and his followers were granted refuge within Te Rohe Pōtae.

Te Kooti and his followers would spend more than a decade amongst Ngāti Maniapoto. During this time, he is said to have attended a local whare wānanga, or traditional house of learning, he also established the foundations and principles of his new Ringatū faith.

It is fair to say that Te Kooti was hugely influenced by his time here in Te Rohe Pōtae, but it is also correct to assert that Te Kooti had a remarkable impact on Ngāti Maniapoto, an impact that can still be seen and felt to this day.

As a gesture of appreciation to King Tāwhiao and the Chiefs of Maniapoto for sheltering Te Kooti and his followers, Te Kooti summoned the finest builders and carvers in the land to construct a grand house. According to old newspapers from the time, the house was built in true Māori fashion, utilising local materials, the walls and roof were constructed from wīwī rushes, raupō reeds, and mānuka bundles. At its completion, it was formally opened by Te Kooti and gifted to Ngāti Maniapoto.

Te Kooti was pardoned in the early 1880s and free to return home to the east coast.

For 150 years Te Tokanganui a noho has become a symbol of Te Kooti’s generosity and remains a focal point for the people of Ngāti Maniapoto.

Kei tua atu ra, ko te wahi i tu ai te whare tupuna o Te Tokanganui a Noho i nga ra o mua.

Whakatungia mai ai te whare e te poropiti Maori, e Te Kooti ratou ko ana apataki, hei koha ki te iwi o Ngati Maniapoto, he kaha no ratau ki te tawharau i a Te Kooti ma.

No muri mai o te pureretanga ona i Wharekauri i te pito o te 1860, ka whaia a Te Kooti ma e te kawanatanga. E rima mano pauna ka utaina atu e te kawanatanga ki runga i te upoko o Te Kooti.

I taua wa ra, i mohiongia te rohe nei ko Te Rohe Potae, ko te King Country hoki. He takiwa motuhake kaore a Tauiwi, nga taua kawanantanga hoki i ahei ki te uru mai. Me whai

whakaaetanga rawa ratou i te Kingi Maori o taua wa, i a Tawhiao, me nga rangatira o Ngati Maniapoto.

Ka mohio a Te Kooti ka haumaru tana noho i waenganui i te iwi o Ngati Maniapoto. I whakaae ia kia tapaengia atu ko te pu, kia hua mai ai ko te rongomau, katahi ka whakaaengia kia uru mai

a Te Kooti ma ki Te Rohe Potae, ki konei tawharaungia ai.

Neke atu i te tekau tau te roa o ta Te Kooti ma noho mai ki roto I a Ngati Maniapoto. E ai ki te korero, no Te Kooti i konei, ka noho mai ia hei tauira i tetahi whare wananga. Ki konei hoki t imata ai tana whakarite i te tuapapa me nga matapono o Te Haahi Ringatu.

Ka kaha te whakaaweawengia o Te Kooti i tana noho mai I Te Rohe Potae nei. Ko tana ohaki e rongongia tonungia ana, mohoa noa nei.

Hei maiohatanga ki a Kingi Tawhiao me nga rangatira o Maniapoto i ta ratou whakamarumaru i a Te Kooti me ana apataki, ka tohungia mai e Te Kooti nga tino kaihanga,

kaiwhakaairo ano hoki i te motu, ki te hanga i tetahi whare tupuna whakahirahira. E ai ki nga niupepa o taua wa ra, he maori ake nei nga mahi hanga i te whare.

Ko nga rauemi no te whenua tonu, ko nga patu me te tuanui i hangaia ki te wiwi, ki te raupo, ki te manuka ano hoki. I tona whakaotinga, ka whakatuwhera okawangia te whare e Te Kooti, ka takohangia atu ki a Ngati Maniapoto.

I murua nga hara o Te Kooti i nga tau tuatahi o te 1880s, ka tukua ia kia hoki ki tona kainga, ki Te Tairawhiti.

E tohu ana te whare o Te Tokanganui a Noho i te nui o te makohakoha a Te Kooti i nga tau 150 kua hipa nei.

Second pā site

In the 1880s, the grand meeting house Te Tokanganui a noho was moved from its original location across the Mangaōkewa stream and re-erected here, near the entrance to the Mangaōkewa gorge. Some say the house was moved due to severe flooding and disrepair.

Ngāti Rōrā accounts tell us, as per tradition, that the reconstruction of the house began at midnight when the main posts were dug and erected, the ridge poles were positioned, and the structure of the house was raised.

It is believed the house was one of the earliest constructed by Te Kooti in the new kotahitanga (unity) style, incorporating ancestors from across the country into the carvings.

The house continued to serve as a whare rūnanga (council chambers) where important tribal and political matters of the day were discussed.

Te Tokanganui a noho was also a whare karakia (house of worship) for Te Kooti and his Ringatū faithful.

The house would only stand here for a short period before it was once again dismantled and relocated to its current location, taking pride of place at the foot of Pukenui beside the railway line.

Te Kooti is said to have predicted the construction of the Main Trunk Railway Line in his kupu whakaari, or prophetic saying

“Tērā he ngārara e haere mai ana.

He auahi e puta mai ana i āna taringa

E kai nei i te whenua”

“A creature is approaching.

With smoke billowing from its ears.

Consuming the land”

In 1884, the Government reached a crucial agreement with Ngāti Maniapoto leaders to open up Te Rohe Pōtae (King Country) to rail development.

I nga tau o te 1800, ka hunukungia te whare tupuna o Te Tokanga nui a Noho atu i tona tunga tuatahi i tua o Te Mangaokewa, ki konei, patata ki te waha o te riu o Te Mangaokewa.

E mea ana etahi i hunukungia te whare, he kino no te waipuke, me te puwhawha o te whare.

E ai ki a Ngati Rora, timata ai te hanganga o te whare i te waenganui po. Ka whakatungia ko nga pou me te tahu, a, ka whakarewangia ake te whare.

E whakaponongia ana koinei tetahi o nga whare tuatahi rawa i hangaia mai e Te Kooti ki te taera o te kotahitanga, ara, ko nga whakairo o roto, ko nga tupuna no nga iwi katoa o te motu.

Ka noho mai te whare hei whare runanga e tu ai nga hui a iwi, hui torangapu hoki.

He whare karakia a Te Tokanganui a Noho mo Te Kooti me ana apataki o Te

Hahi Ringatu.

Kaore i roa, ka whakahekea mai te whare, ka hunukungia ano ki te wahi e tu

nei ia i enei ra, i te take o te maunga o Pukenui, i te taha tonu o te rerewei.

E ai ki te korero, i matakitehia e Te Kooti te hanganga o te rerewei matua. Kei

roto ke i ana kupu whakaari ko te korero e ki ana:

“Tērā he ngārara e haere mai ana He auahi e puta mai ana i ana taringa

E kai nei i te whenua”

I te tau 1884, ka eke te whakaaetanga i waenganui i te kawanatanga me nga

rangatira o Ngati Maniapoto kia whakatuwhera i Te Rohe Potae kia pai ai te hanga rerewei.

Taupiri o te Rangi

The area before you is called Taupiri o te Rangi.

Taupiri o te Rangi is historically significant to the local people, as it is the birthplace of the ancestor from whom they take their name - Rōrā.

Rōrā was the youngest son of the eponymous ancestor Maniapoto and Paparauwhare.

According to Ngāti Rōrā accounts, Maniapoto was a very old man when he married Paparauwhare, so old in fact, that some believed he was incapable of fathering another child. So when Paparauwhare fell pregnant and gave birth, the child was given the name Rōrā, which loosely translated means incapable or unable to, proving that Maniapoto was indeed very capable after all.

Rōrā was raised and spent much of his childhood here at Taupiri o te Rangi. There was a pā tuna (weir for catching eels) close by, as well as other food sources, which made this pā site (settlement) perfect for raising a family.

Rōrā would grow up to be a notable warrior and leader in his own right, before losing his life in a revenge attack on Mōtakiora.

Ngāti Rōrā is one of the largest hapū (subtribes) of the much larger collective of Ngāti Maniapoto.

Taupiri o te Rangi is also an urupā or traditional burial ground, adding further reverence for the people of Ngāti Rōrā who have called this area home for more than four hundred years.

Ko te whenua kei to aroaro, ko Taupiri o Te Rangi.

He whenua tuku iho a Taupiri o Te Rangi ki te iwi kainga, ina hoki ko te whenua tenei i whanau mai ai te tupuna a Rora.

Ko Rora te tama a te tupuna rongonui, a Maniapoto raua ko Paparauwhare.

E ai ki a Ngati Rora, kua kaumatua ke a Maniapoto i tana moe i a Paparauwhare, me te whakaaro o etahi, ka kore e taea e Maniapoto te whai uri, he pakeke rawa nona. Na wai, ka hapu a Paparauwhare. I te whanautanga mai o ta raua tama, ka tapangia ia ki te ingoa Rora.

Whakapakekengia mai ai a Rora i konei, i Taupiri o Te Rangi. He pa tuna I konei, he pataka kai i ona ra. Koina i tino pai ai tenei wahi hei whakatupu tamariki.

Ka tupu haere ana a Rora, ka tu ia hei rangatira i mua i te kohurutanga ona i

Motakiora. He ngakinga mate te take.

Ko Ngati Rora tetahi o nga hapu nui katoa o te iwi o Ngati Maniapoto.

E ai ki a Ngati Rora, he urupa a Taupiri o Te Rangi.

Kua neke atu i te wha rau tau te hapu o Ngati Rora e noho tangata whenua

mai ana i konei.

Tumutumu

The hill before you was once the location of a traditional pā (settlement) called Tumutumu.

This pā belonged to the ancestor Paruparu, who was the son of Tūtaemārō and grandson of Rōrā, whom Ngāti Rōrā (the local people) descend from.

Paruparu was the paramount chief of Ngāti Rōrā in his time. He was the kaitiaki (guardian or protector) of Ngāti Rōrā lands and taonga (prized possessions)

Tumutumu became an important pā, not only to Ngāti Rōrā but to Ngāti Maniapoto, as there were a number of settlements close by, including Taupiri o te Rangi.

Unfortunately, Paruparu also met his end at Tumutumu. He was being pursued by a war party who eventually captured and killed him.

Paruparu was succeeded by his son Te Hokotahi, who married Rauramarama. Te Hokotahi and his wife also lived here at Tumutumu.

According to some Ngāti Rōrā accounts, during the New Zealand Wars of the 1840s - 1870s.

Tumutumu was being prepared for battle, should the Government troops have crossed the Pūniu river and entered into the King Country, following the Battle of Orākau in 1864.

The landscape of Tumutumu has changed dramatically with development and farming.

Tumutumu was known for its fertile soil providing essential nutrients to grow wheat. Wheat was taken from here down the Mangaōkewa stream and milled in Ōtorohanga before being transported to Auckland to be sold or exported.

I nga ra o mua, ka tu te pa o Tumutumu ki te hiwi kei mua i a koe.

Ko Paruparu te rangatira o te pa, ko ia hoki te tama a Tutaemaro, te mokopuna a Rora i ahu mai ai te ingoa o te hapu, o Ngati Rora. Ko Paruparu te rangatira o Ngati Rora i ona ra. Ko ia hoki te kaitiaki i nga whenua me nga taonga ake a Ngati Rora. Ka taka te wa, ka whakahirahira ake te pa o Tumutumu kaua ki a Ngati Rora anake, engari ke ia, ki a Ngati Maniapoto,

ina hoki he nui ke atu nga kainga patata, ko Taupiri o Te Rangi tetahi.

I mate a Paruparu ki Tumutumu nei. I whaia ra ia e tetahi ope taua, ka mau ia, ka kohurungia. Ko tana tama, ko Te Hokotahi ka tu mai ki tona turanga. Ka moe ia i a Rauramarama. Noho tahi ai raua ki Tumutumu nei.

E ai ki a Ngati Rora, i te wa o nga pakanga whenua o Aotearoa ka whakaritea te pa o Tumutumu mo te tupono ka whakawhitingia te awa o Puniu e nga hoia o te kawanatanga ka uru mai ki Te Rohe Potae, i muri mai o te pakanga ki Orakau i te tau 1864.

Kua rereke katoa te takoto o te whenua o Tumutumu i nga mahi ahu whenua me nga mahi pamu. I mohiongia a Tumutumu mo ona whenua haumako i matomato ai te tupu o te witi. I haria atu te witi i konei ma Te Mangaokewa, ka mirangia ki Otorohanga, i mua i te kawetanga ki Tamaki Makaurau kia hokongia atu.

Mangaokewa Reserve

Welcome to the Mangaōkewa Scenic Reserve

This area is very sacred to Ngāti Rōrā (the local people) as it is a final resting place for tribal ancestors, therefore, it must be treated with the utmost respect.

The imposing limestone bluffs you can see were formed millions of years ago and create an imposing presence to the many visitors who come to experience the natural wonders of the reserve.

The Mangaōkewa stream that flows through the reserve was once abundant with tuna (eel) ika (fish) and piharau or lamprey eel. Early Māori also used the Mangaōkewa to transport goods and people by waka (canoe) up and down the stream.

The township of Te Kūiti takes its name from this place. According to some sources, Te Kūiti, or the narrowing, refers to the limestone cliff faces towards the Northern entrance of the reserve.

However, other accounts suggest the name comes from a powerful speech given by King Tāwhiao in the 1860s during his exile here in the King Country. Tāwhiao spoke about “te kūititanga o te tāngata” or the coming together of the people.

Years later the name Te Kūiti was acquired by early settlers and given to the local train station in and around the construction of The Main Trunk Line in the late 1880s.

Ngāti Rōrā invites you to enjoy a walk through the native forest, experience the plant and bird life, or be mesmerized by the cascading waters of the Mangaōkewa stream.

This area has long been an important place for countless generations. Take a moment to feel the presence of the ancestors who once lived and walked this beautiful land.

Nau mai ki Te Mangaokewa.

He wahi tapu rawa tenei ki te iwi kainga, ki a Ngati Rora. Ko te wahi okioki tenei o o ratau tupuna, no reira, me kaha te whakaute atu.

He mea hanga nga pari raima nui e kite nei koe i nga tau e hia miriona ki mua, ko tona ahua he whakahirahira ki nga manuwhiri ka tau mai ki konei ki te matiro atu i nga taonga maori i Te Mangaokewa nei.

I nga ra o mua, ka kaha te rere o te tuna, te ika me te piharau i Te Mangaokewa nei. Ko ta nga Maori o taua wa, he kawe haere i nga rawa, i te tangata ano hoki ma Te Mangaokewa.

He mea tiki atu te ingoa o te taone o Te Kuiti i te wahi nei. Hei ta etahi, ko Te Kuititanga e korero ana mo te ahua o te tu a nga pari raima i te tomokanga tuaraki o te wahi nei.

Heoi, tera hoki te korero, he mea tiki atu ke te ingoa o Te Kuiti i te kauhau a Kingi Tawhiao i tana noho taurewa mai i Te Rohe Potae nei. Ka whakahuangia ake e ia te korero mo “te kuititanga o te tangata”, ara, ko te whakakotahitanga mai o te tangata.

Ka taka te wa, ka mau i te Pakeha te ingoa o Te Kuiti, ka whakaingoangia e ratou te teihana tereina ko Te Kuiti i te hanganga o te rerewai matua i te mutunga o nga tau 1880.

Tenei te reo powhiri o Ngati Rora ki a koutou, kia whikoingia te ngahere, e kite

ai koe i nga rakau me nga manu Maori. Titiro atu ranei ki nga wai mareparepa o

Te Mangaokewa.

He taonga tuku iho tenei wahi. No reira, tena ata noho, kia rongo ai koe i te

mauri me te wairua o nga tupuna i noho mai i tenei whenua ataahua i mua ra.