Te Ātiawa ki Kāpiti History
The earliest accounts of Te Ātiawa ki Kāpiti go back to the Kāhui Mounga Collective that had spread itself from Taranaki and the Central Plateau region through to Te Ūpoko o te Ika.
During this time, further waves of migrations occurred.
Two of these migrations began with the arrival of the following waka to Taranaki; Te Kahutara, Taikōria and Okoki.
The names of these iwi were Te Tini-a-Taitāwaro, Te Tini-a-Pananehu, Tamaki, and Te Tini-o-Pohokura, names after four brothers who led their people to Aotearoa.
Te Tini-o-Pohokura spread throughout Taranaki, and sections of this community occupied areas in the upper reaches of the Mokau Valley.
Piopio, a prominant tupuna wahine from Te Tini-o-Pohokura, married a descendant of the famous Toi Kairākau named Atakore in order to bring warfare between the tribes to an end.
Once peace was agreed, Toi Kairākau bestowed upon Piopio his name in honour of that peace. Her name became Piopio Te Kairākau.
Eventually Piopio Te Kairākau’s people migrated further south to the Kāpiti region.
The name of this ancestress was bestowed upon two pou that rested on each side of the Waikanae River.
One of these pou, named ‘Piopio’, was located at what is now known as Piopio Place, near the Waikanae beachfront. The other pou, named ‘Te Kairākau’, was located at what is now the Camelot Subdivision in Ōtaihanga.
Te Tini-o-Pohokura have direct connections with Te Ātiawa and coupled with the pou at the mouth of the Waikanae river, mark many traditional symbols of connection we maintain to some of the earlier occupant’s on the Kāpiti Coast.
Before Te Tini-o-Pohokura settlement was the journey of a tupuna named Haunui-a-Nanaia, who has a direct relationship with both the Kurahaupō and Aotea waka.
Haunui-a-Nanaia married a woman named Wairaka and they resided in Whenuakura, near Pātea. It was through an act of adultery on Wairaka’s behalf, and the subsequent pursuit of Wairaka by her husband, that led Haunui-a-Nanaia to the area of Takamore.
In his pursuit of Wairaka, Haunui-a-Nanaia followed the path of an atua, Rongomai, who exemplified itself in the form of a meteor.
During his journey, Haunui-a-Nanaia named various tributaries and landmarks from Whanganui to Te Upoko o Te Ika. In particular, he also named Waimeha and Waikanae.
However, what is also important to recount is the connection between the atua Rongomai, and Haunui-a-Nanaia.
As an atua, it was believed that whatever Rongomai touched, that area would be deemed tapu. There are many accounts of landmarks that are deemed tapu through Rongomai’s deeds as Haunui-a-Nanaia made his pursuit.
The traditional name of the Paraparaumu waterfront is Te Wai-o-Rongomai. The is also an ancient spring named Te Puna-o-Rongomai, located to the east of the Weggery Homestead within the Takamore wāhi tapu.
The spring itself was named as a result of Haunui-a-Nanaia witnessing the descent of meteor dust landing upon this spring, acknowledging its mana, it was named after Rongomai.
For centuries following its naming, Te Puna-o-Rongomai was utilised by our ancestors, the Muaupoko people, as a healing spring, and used in association with birthing rites.
The naming of the Waikane River
The naming of the Waikanae River itself symbolises the serene nature of this area. The term, Waikanae, has two proverbial meanings. The first:
“Ka ngahae ngā pī, ko Waikanae.”
“Staring in amazement, hence Waikanae.”
This proverb recalls when Haunui-a-Nanaia was crossing the river. It was during a cloudless night in which the stars and moon were prevalent in the skies. When Haunui-a-Nanaia stared into the river waters, he noticed a myriad of Kanae (Mullet) swimming in the shoals.
What startled him was that they eyes of the Kanae were gleaming from the reflection of the stars and moon.
Haunui-a-Nanaia was ‘staring in amazement’. The essence of this proverb is also personafied by the following proverb:
Ko tōku waikanaetanga tēnei
This is my peace and humility
This simple proverb captured by the naming of the river symbolises our relationship to the Waikanae area.