Our Trip to Wharewaka

According to Te Ātiawa , Kupe was the first Polynesian to discover the islands of New Zealand. He had many challenges along the way on his journey from Hawaiki, his homeland.  After observing a slime like juice on his fishing lines he realised there was a giant creature that was responsible for stealing their fist.  This was the great octopus belonging to Kupe’s competitor, Muturangi. 

Kupe went to visit Muturangi to ask her to get her wheke under control and she replied with No ! So, Kupe set out in his waka to kill the octopus, and such was the length of the pursuit that it brought him around Aotearoa.  For some Iwi around Aotearoa Muturangi was a male. His journeys and the places he stopped all have special names that help us keep the pūrākau of Kupe and his whānau alive.  

The arrival of Kupe is of great importance. His wife, Kuramārōtini, gave the name of Ao-tea-roa (‘long white cloud’) on seeing the North Island for the first time. She yelled “He Ao He Ao, He Ao tea roa”   His adventures took place predominantly in the south Wairarapa, Cook Strait and Northland regions. However, in some versions he travelled as far south as the South Island’s West Coast, and to the Coromandel Peninsula.  Taputapu-ātea and Te Whitianga-o-Kupe, for example, commemorate Kupe’s time in Hauraki.

There are many places that are super significant for us here at Worser Bay because after a time Kupe settled just inside Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington Harbour) at Maraenui (Seatoun). The beach there is named Te Tūranganui ō Kupe from his stay at that place. 

The reef in the harbour entrance, Te Tangihanga ō Kupe (Barrett's Reef), is named from the mournful sound of the waters around it. Te Ure ō Kupe, also called Te Aroaro ō Kupe (Steeple Rock) was a fishing place Kupe reserved for himself. He named the rocks and islands after one of his crew and the islands in the harbour he named after his daughters, Mokopuna, Mākaro (Ward Island) and Matiu (Somes Island).

We also learnt that Kupe had a Kuri called “AuAu”.  This Kuri had the special responsibility for following and knowing where Te Wheke was.   Au Au was his bark when he was on to a lead !