Whangape Harbour

Whangape Harbour (Māori: Whangapē) is a harbour on the west coast of Northland, New Zealand. There is a settlement called Whangape on the northern side of the harbour. Another, called Pawarenga, is located on the southern side.[1][2] Kaitaia is 42 km north east.[3]

Whangape Harbour
Whangape Harbour
Whangape Harbour is in the Northland Region of New Zealand
LocationNorthland, New Zealand
Coordinates35°21′0″S 173°14′0″E
Native nameWhangape
Primary inflowsAwaroa River and Rotokakahi River
Primary outflowsTasman Sea
SettlementsWhangape, Pawarenga

The harbour is a narrow valley from the confluence of the Awaroa and Rotokakahi Rivers through hills to the Tasman Sea.[4] The harbour entrance is treacherous.[3] The Herekino Harbour and settlement are a few kilometres to the north, and the Hokianga is to the south and east.[1]

History and culture

Pre-European history

According to Māori traditions, the waka Māmari, captained by Ruānui, settled the Whangape area after being forced out of the Hokianga during early Māori settlement of New Zealand.[5] They established a large fortified pa at Pawarenga. Here they were attacked by a war party from the south, which greatly outnumbered them. The Ngāti Ruānui stacked brushwood about the pa, and set them alight before fleeing across the harbour on rafts, hidden by the clouds of smoke produced. They settled much of the far north, becoming known as Te Aupōuri ('au' means current and 'pōuri' smoke) after this event.[6][7]

Edward Wakefield described the harbour in 1837, and estimated the local Māori population as "not fewer than one thousand souls".[8]

European settlement

Whangape settlement became an important timber port in the late 19th and early 20th century. There was a large mill on the foreshore and numerous houses on the hills. Ships, initially sailing ships and later steamers, loaded the kauri timber and transported it to markets elsewhere. At least four ships were wrecked at the harbour entrance: the 79-ton schooner Leonidas in 1871,[9] the 15-ton cutter Lionel in 1877 with all five on board lost,[10] the 108-ton schooner Geelong in 1879 with two lives lost,[11] and most recently the River Hunter foundered in 1906 while under tow.[12]

Panorama of Whangape Harbour

Marae

Pawarenga has three marae affiliated with Te Uri o Tai, a hapū of Te Rarawa:[13] Mōrehu Marae and Kurahaupō meeting house; Ōhākī Marae and Te Urunga Moutonu or Maru o te Huia meeting house; and Taiao Marae and Mātaatua meeting house.[14] In October 2020, the Government committed $1,407,731 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Ōhākī Marae and 8 other marae of Te Rarawa, creating 100 jobs. It also committed $217,455 to upgrade Mataatua Marae, creating 14 jobs.[15]

Whangape has one marae, Te Kotahitanga.[14] It is affiliated with the Ngāpuhi hapū of Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Tautahi, Ngāti Whakaeke, Takoto Kē and Te Uri o Hua.[13] In October 2020, the Government committed $90,424 to upgrade both it and Te Maata Marae, creating 12 jobs. It also committed $1,407,731 towards work on Te Kotahitanga and eight other marae.[15]

Education
Whangape Native School Ferry, about 1906

Te Kura o Hata Maria o Pawarenga is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school. It has a decile rating of 2 and a roll of 26.[16]

Rotokakahi Native School (also called Rotokakahi Maori School) operated from 1918 to about 1969 on the harbour.[17]

References
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 3. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 18. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. "Kaitāia and district". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  4. Parkes, W. F. (c. 1965). The Visitors' Guide to the Far North - Mangonui County (3rd ed.). p. 12.
  5. "Canoe traditions - Canoes of the northern tide". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  6. "Te Aupōuri and Te Rarawa". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  7. Parkes, pp 12-13
  8. Wakefield, Edward Jerningham (1837). The British Colonization of New Zealand. John W. Parker. pp. 88–89. Whangape.
  9. "New Zealand Historical Data: Name Index - Ships L".
  10. "New Zealand Historical Data: Name Index - Ships L".
  11. "New Zealand Historical Data: Name Index - Ships G".
  12. Parkes, p 13
  13. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  14. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  15. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  16. "Te Kete Ipurangi - Te Kura o Hata Maria o Pawarenga". Ministry of Education.
  17. "Broadwood Area School (X366)".
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