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Ngāti Kuia Sites of Significance

Below are just a few sites within reach of Te Hora Marae. The text on this page originally appeared in a Ngāti Kuia document published in 2023 titled "Ngā Tohu Whenua - Sites of Significance".

Photo: Keelan Walker

Te Hoiere (Pelorus)

Te Hoiere is fundamental to the identity and mauri of Ngāti Kuia. It is where our association with Te Tauihu o Te Waka a Māui commenced. The area features prominently in the history and culture of Ngāti Kuia and has provided physical and cultural sustenance to the iwi since the time of Matua Hautere. Our occupation has never been interrupted.

Te Hoiere was included in the Te Hoiere, Hautai and Te Taonui-a-kupe areas identified by Ngāti Kuia tīpuna in 1883 as a place of their lands.

Te Hoiere was renowned for its natural resources, including fish, kererū, kākāpō, tūī, and pakohe. Marutea is the name of the grey pakohe found in Te Hoiere which was used by our tīpuna to make toki.

Kahuroa

Kahuroa means the long cloak which comes from the mist which shrouds the mountain.

It is also referred to in the well known waiata tangi, E Koro Pāroa.

Motuweka (Havelock)

Motuweka is a fowling term used to describe the practice of rendering a weka lame and tying it to a post so it would call out to other weka to be harvested. From 1840 the Crown began imposing its authority. Governor George Grey set about purchasing large areas of the South Island. In 1856 Ngāti Kuia signed a Deed of Sale with the Crown. The sale included the land on which Motuweka (Havelock) now sits. In return, Ngāti Kuia were promised schools and hospitals and enough land to cater for the immediate and future needs of the people. As is the story of colonisation, the Crown fell short on its promises.

Whakamarino (Wakamarina)

Whakamarino means to make calm, and is the name of the river commonly referred to as Wakamarina. This river connects to Te Hoiere from the top of the Richmond Ranges. This river was the epicentre of a gold rush, where gold was first discovered in the area in 1864.

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