Kupe

Kupe left Raiatea amidst controversy aboard the waka Matawhaurua, following the whale Tohara south, a new land was sighted, Kupe named his discovery Aotearoa.

Kupe did not land immediately instead he followed a bright light that guided him around North Cape to his first landing place on the west coast, he named this harbour Te puna o te ao marama. Tohara raised its dorsel fin at the entrance to the harbour. Te Hikutu the largest hapu in the area take their name from this action hikutu meaning standing tail.

HOKIANGA NUI A KUPE

Kupe who later renamed the harbour, Hokianga nui a Kupe (the great returning of Kupe), landed at Pakanae, a place he named after a school of mullet. His Pa site was in the ranges Manawa kai ai ia. His Maunga Te Ramaroa (the long enduring light) was so named because of the light that had lead Kupe to Hokianga.

TE RAMAROA

Kupe in his explorations discovered and named many features including the large waterfall Tuwhateroa (the long protruding tongue) which runs into the Whirinaki River. The story of the naming of Whirinaki comes later and involves the great Rangatira Rahiri and his two sons.

Kupe continued up the Whirinaki river and at a place we now call Paheke (Hongi Hika landed here much later hence the name) Kupe told his dog to wait at the river mouth as the bush was too thick for a dog. Kupe’s dog can still be seen here waiting for his master to this day.

Kupe made two voyages to the Hokianga in the Waka Matawhaurua and his grandson Nukutawhiti also returned aboard the Waka Ngatokimatawhaurua, many Ngapuhi claim both these rangatira in their Whakapapa.

Te hei wini wini

Te hei wana wana

Te hei ki te Waitahi kura o Kupe.

Kupe’s tohunga Papatara died and was buried at Te ana Papatara , a hole that was alleged to go on forever , unlucky slaves were cast inside if they didn’t work hard, I suppose it was preferable to being eaten. Waimirirangi the Queen of Ngapuhi had her Marae here. She later married Kairewa a direct descendant of Rahiri and Rangatira of Ngati Kairewa still a hapu today but rarely referred to by that name.

Kairewa was killed in a battle with Te Aupouri, dying from a taiaha wound to his heart. The whole area of Whirinaki was named Manawa Kore, after his death.

Whirinaki