Whirinaki

Rahiri the paramount chief of Ngapuhi banished his wife Ahuaiti and his son Uenuku from Pakanae when Uenuku was still a baby. Ahuaiti against Rahiri's orders had given away the best food in a feast out of respect to her visiting brothers, Korakatea and Korakanui.

Uenuku was exiled with his mother for this act and was brought up in neighbouring Taumarere. Rahiri later remarried and had another child with his new wife, Whakaruru whom he named Kaharau, their kainga was Pakanae.

As Uenuku grew up in Taumarere he earned the nickname Uenuku-kuaare as he had no knowledge of karakia or whakatauki. He came to Pakanae to avenge this insulting name and demand his father Rahiri gives him the knowledge that was his by right as tuakana.

Kaharau stepped into the dispute and demanded utu for this disrespect to his father. Rahiri had to come between them and explain who Uenuku was, to his son Kaharau.

Kaharau still refused to acknowledge Uenuku as his tuakana and war was imminent. Rahiri not wanting unnecessary bloodshed had to quickly solve this dispute and act as a mediator between his two sons. It was important he wasn't seen to be taking sides.

Rahiri convinced his sons to make a manurere and weave a strong flax rope (whiria he korari). The famous Maunga, Whiria of Ngati Korokoro got its name from this action.

Rahiri instructed the sons to fly the manurere and when it landed, the land on one side right back to the Hokianga would be for Kaharau while the land on the other side would be for Uenuku.

Unfortunately the whiria broke and the manurere landed on a hill above the valley, leaning up against a Puriri tree, he whirinaki ana ki te rakau puriri. Whirinaki was thus named.

The manurere was flown again with a stronger rope. This time the manurere came to rest at Tahuna, near Kaikohe. All the lands west of Tahuna now belonged to Kaharau, whereas the land east of Tahuna now belonged to Uenuku. This is also why Kaikohe is known as Te Pua o te Wheke, the heart of the octopus, the gateway between east and west.

Rahiri said to his sons-

Ka mimiti te puna i Taumarere

Ka toto te puna i Hokianga

Ka toto te puna i Taumarere

Ka mimiti te puna i Hokianga

To this day there are still very strong links between the Hapu of Ngati Manu and Te Hikutu.(Wikaira 2003)