Ngā Kōrero - Our Stories

Over seven centuries ago, the great waka Te Arawa set sail from the spiritual homeland of Hawaiki, carrying our ancestors across the vast Pacific Ocean to the shores of Aotearoa.

Led by Tamatekapua, a skilled navigator and chief of the Te Arawa waka battled fierce storms and navigated by the stars to reach this new land. The journey was not just physical but spiritual - our ancestors carried with them the mana, knowledge, and cultural treasures that would become the foundation of the Te Arawa descendants.

When they finally arrived at the Bay of Plenty, Tamatekapua and his people explored inland, following rivers and valleys until they reached the geothermal heartland that would become their home. The decision to settle in this region was guided by spiritual signs and the recognition of the land's mana.

Today, Tamatekapua's name lives on in our meeting house, where his carved image watches over all who enter, reminding us of the courage and vision that brought our people to this sacred land.

Whakaue, descendant of the Arawa voyagers, was drawn to the shores of what we now call Lake Rotorua by a vision and the calling of the ancestors. The geothermal springs and fertile lands spoke to him of a place where his people could thrive for generations.

The name Ohinemutu tells of a story "The ending of the young maiden". It speaks of a young maiden who was tragically killed unarmed as an act of collateral damage.

Whakaue recognized this as a site of great mana, where those before him had already left their mark. Under Whakaue's leadership, the village grew around the natural hot springs. These geothermal features provided warmth in winter, cooking facilities year-round, and healing waters for the sick and weary. The village became known throughout the region for its hospitality and the wisdom of its people.

The strategic location on the lakeshore also provided abundant food sources - fish from the lake, birds from the surrounding forests, and fertile soil for growing crops. Whakaue's descendants continue to call Ohinemutu home today, maintaining an unbroken connection to this sacred place.

In the time of our ancestors, when the village of Ohinemutu was young and the waters of Lake Rotorua reflected the mana of the people, there lived a beautiful maiden (chiefly woman) named Hinemoa.

Her beauty was renowned throughout the region, but her heart belonged to only one - Tutanekai, a skilled musician and warrior who lived on Mokoia Island. Though their love was pure and strong, the social conventions of the time prevented them from being together openly. Hinemoa's family had other plans for her marriage, and the waters of the lake separated the lovers both physically and socially.

Each night, Tutanekai would play his pūtōrino (flute) on Mokoia Island, the beautiful melodies carrying across the water to where Hinemoa waited in Owhatiura. The music became their secret communication, each note carrying messages of love and longing.

Finally, unable to bear the separation any longer, Hinemoa made a decision that would echo through the generations. In the darkness of night, she bound calabash or gourds (tahā) around her body for buoyancy and swam across the lake to Mokoia Island, guided by the sound of Tutanekai's flute.

Their reunion was joyous, and their love story became a testament to the power of determination and true love. Today, visitors to Owhatiura can still see Mokoia Island and imagine Hinemoa's brave and courageous swim.

Long before Europeans arrived in Aotearoa, the Te Arawa people understood that the geothermal features of our homeland were not merely natural phenomena, but sacred gifts from the atua (spiritual guardians) that required protection and respect.

The story tells of how Ngātoro-i-rangi, the tohunga (spiritual leader) of the Arawa waka, called upon his sisters Te Pupu & Te Hoata for warmth from the fires of Hawaiki to save him from freezing on the peaks of Tongariro. The spiritual fires that answered his calls traveled through the earth and emerged as the geothermal features we see today throughout our region.

Each hot spring, each bubbling mud pool, each steaming vent has its own mauri (life force) and purpose. Some are for healing, others for cooking, and still others for spiritual cleansing. Our ancestors learned to read the signs of the earth - when it was safe to approach, when the spirits were restless, and how to show proper respect.

The knowledge of how to use these geothermal treasures safely and sustainably has been passed down through generations. Our people developed sophisticated systems for cooking in the hot springs, for using the warm waters for bathing and healing, and for reading the spiritual messages that the earth sends through its movements and changes.

Today, as kaitiaki (guardians) of these treasures, we continue this sacred responsibility. We share the physical and spiritual benefits of our geothermal heritage with visitors, while ensuring that future generations will inherit this precious taonga (treasure) intact.

For over 15 generations, our people have stood as fierce guardians of our land, navigating the tumultuous seas of conflict and strife. From our early ancestors, who boldly claimed this land, to the present 35th and 36th generations, we have faced the trials of inter-tribal warfare and international battles alike.

Our Maori men, valiant warriors, served with honor in the Boer War, World War I, and World War II. In every war, they carried the weight of their culture, heritage, and the sacred practices of our ancestors. The unity of our Maori comrades, expressed through song, dance, and fierce resolve in battle, struck fear into the hearts of our adversaries. It was a powerful testament to our spirit, a reminder that we are never alone in our fight.

Before the chaos of battle, our warriors would ascend the hilltop of Pukeroa, a sacred place where they would give thanks to the forebears who paved the way for us. They called upon our kaitiaki, the guardians, to envelop them in protection and to be a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. Many of these brave souls returned, but the majority made the ultimate sacrifice, their youth and lives laid down for the peace we enjoy today.

Muruika, now a solemn war memorial cemetery nestled on the edge of Lake Rotorua, stands as a testament to their bravery. Each year, our tribe gathers here to honor the past, to remember the sacrifices made, and to celebrate the resilience of our soldiers. Some returned, marked by injuries, heartbreak, and trauma, while others rest in foreign lands, their bodies far from home but their spirits forever intertwined with ours.

Though they may no longer walk among us, they have been transformed into guardians, kaitiaki who watch over us against unforeseen attacks. Now, we, the new generation, tread the path they could not complete. We carry their legacy, their strength, and their dreams, honoring the warriors who never returned and ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

In Ohinemutu today, the ancient stories are not museum pieces - they are living guides that shape how we approach modern challenges and opportunities. Our village represents one of the most remarkable examples of cultural continuity in the modern world, where traditional values thrive alongside contemporary life.

Each morning, as the steam rises from our geothermal pools and the sun breaks over Lake Rotorua, our people begin another day of balancing the wisdom of the ancestors with the needs of the present. Children learn te reo Māori alongside English, growing up bilingual and bicultural in the most natural way possible.

Our modern guides, like their ancestors before them, carry the responsibility of storytelling - but now their audience includes visitors from around the globe. Each cultural experience we offer is an opportunity to transform misunderstanding into appreciation, distance into connection, and differences into shared humanity.

The challenges of the 21st century - climate change, cultural preservation, social inequality - are met with solutions rooted in ancient Māori values. Kaitiakitanga guides our environmental stewardship, manaakitanga shapes our hospitality industry, and Whakakotahi informs our community development.

Young Te Arawa people today are doctors, teachers, artists, and entrepreneurs, but they are also cultural practitioners, treaty negotiators, and guardians of ancestral knowledge. They represent the flowering of their ancestors' dreams - educated in both worlds, confident in their identity, and committed to ensuring that the 800th year of Te Arawa presence in this land will be as vibrant as the first.

This is perhaps the greatest story of all - not one with a neat ending, but one that continues to unfold with each sunrise, each child born, each visitor welcomed, and each tradition passed on to the next generation.