Our Whanau Groups

Many years ago, two of the tribes in the north, Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri were constantly at war over the ownership of the Te Oneroa a Tohe (90 Mile Beach). They had many battles and eventually chief PŌROA of Te Rarawa pushed Te Aupouri towards the northern end of the beach.  

PŌROA scribed or drew a mark, a line across the beach as a boundary for both tribes.  Te Aupouri were to stay to the north of the line and Te Rarawa were to stay to the south.

To further cement the peace between the two tribes PŌROA was given a wife, a lady of chiefly status from the ranks of Te Aupouri.  Her name was WHANGATAUATIA.   When PŌROA returned to his own pa near the southern end of the beach he renamed his pa WHANGATAUATIA in honour of his wife.

Peace between the tribes reigned for many years, and eventually PŌROA died.  Such was his great mana, a tapu was put on the beach for one year.  During this time a RAHUI, a ban, was put on the gathering of all birds, fish and shellfish.

When the TAPU was lifted, a great feast was held, and as was customary in those days, the first fish and shellfish caught and taken, were cooked over a special fire, and karakia (prayers) were said over the food.  This food was then placed in a certain place as an offering.

It was from this offering that AHIPARA was named.

The beachfront area of Ahipara is known as Te Tai o Whaaro/Karirikura.  Tohe was well known by many to have the status of a highly ranked and respected chief, who lived in his Whāro Pā near Pīwhane. On his journey from Kapowairua to find his daughter, Raninikura, who was taken to the Hokianga area.  Tohe discovered and named many of the places known today along the length of Te Oneroa a Tohe to Ahipara.  On his arrival he named this place ‘Te Tai o Whaaro’ which means measuring in distances the high and low tides.

Te Maara o Wharo derived from the great chief  and circumnavigator Kupe.  He travelled around New Zealand and named many places and this was one, which he named ‘Te Maara o Wharo’, which translates ‘The Garden of Wharo’. And because our garden is a food garden it is named ‘Te Māra Kai o Wharo’.  The name is hugely significant to our school, it’s our mokopuna and our tupuna korero.

Tōhe and Ariki were never without food on their journey along Te Tuāru Beach. At Waītāhuna, snapper, mullet, kahawai, and flounder were trapped in large sandbanks that coould be easily caught and kept for their journey. He recited that when you look at the high maunga, the long ridge on the other side, you would hear the sounds of crashing waves, a wide expansive beach, and the red haze of the setting sun.

Ahipara School is surrounded by wai (water).  We have the Waimahutahuta creek near the school, which is well known for its natural healing.  Ahipara is located at the bottom of Te Oneroa-a-tōhe (90 Mile Beach), so we are also surrounded by beach, the ocean and the reef. Then the  Wairoa River flows behind the school.

Before the intrepid voyager Kupe returned to Hawaiki ,after having named and circumnavigated Aotearoa, he established the sacred pathway enabling spirits of his descendants to make their return home after death. He named the pathway Te Ara Wairua, which traverses to Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe and is generally known to be between low and high tide.

Along Te Ara Wairua, there are many significant places to iwi, providing opportuinites for a final farewell to the deceased, where spirits  are guided by tawhirimatea and may rest under a pohutukawa tree or drink from a special running awa (stream/river). The kaitiaki (guardians) of the pathway's cultural integrity are local tangata whenua who live in communities close by. They know and are familiar with these places and remain repository of this culture and knowledge.