Kāwhia Harbour
| Kāwhia | |
|---|---|
 Kāwhia
|
|
| Coordinates: 38°6′S 174°48′E / 38.1°S 174.8°ECoordinates: 38°6′S 174°48′E / 38.1°S 174.8°E | |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Region | King Country |
| Territorial authority | King Country District |
| Ward | Otorohanga |
| Electorate | Waikato |
| Government | |
| • MP | Shane Arden (National) |
| • Mayor | Dale Williams |
| Population | |
| • Urban | 650 |
| Time zone | NZST (UTC+12) |
| • Summer (DST) | NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Postcode | 2451 |
| Area code(s) | 07 |
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[1] 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.[2] The area of Kawhia comprises 40 to 50 acres (200,000 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"
[edit] History
The harbour area was the birthplace of prominent Māori warrior chief Te Rauparaha, 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[3] 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”[4] 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”.[5] 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.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2006CensusHomePage/QuickStats/AboutAPlace/SnapShot.aspx?id=3531200
- ^ http://www.kawhiaharbour.co.nz/kawhia-history.html
- ^ (Kawhia.Maori.NZ).
- ^ (Kawhia Harbour, para 15-16).
- ^ (Kawhia.Maori.NZ, para 38-40)
- ^ http://www.waitomo.org.nz/waitomo-region-facts.asp
The Raglan and Kawhia districts, New Zealand: early history, resources and potentialities, future prospects.(1915)
