Statutory area
The area to which this statutory acknowledgement applies (statutory area) is the area known as Koohi Point, as shown on SO 61401, South Auckland Land District.
Preamble
Under section 40, the Crown acknowledges Ngati Awa' s statement of its cultural, spiritual, historical, and traditional association to Koohi Point as set out below.
Cultural, spiritual, historical, and traditional association of Ngati Awa with statutory area
It is the historical traditions of Ngati Awa that illustrate the relationship of Ngati Awa to Koohi Point Scenic Reserve. For Ngati Awa, traditions such as these represent the links between the world of the gods and present generations. These histories reinforce tribal identity, solidarity, and continuity between generations and document the events which shaped the environment of Koohi Point and Ngati Awa as an iwi.
Ngati Awa has resided at Koohi Point since the time of the ancestor Tiwakawaka, many generations before the arrival of the Mataatua waka at Whakatane. Tiwakawaka was the first explorer to discover and settle the land around Kakahoroa (Whakatane). His waka was Te Aratauwhaiti and his descendants were the original people of Kakahoroa. Some of the crew of Te Aratauwhaiti are commemorated in the names of the rocks at Koohi Point.
Twelve generations from Tiwakawaka came the ancestor Toi to Huatahi. Toi resided at Kaputerangi Pa which is located above the Koohi Point Scenic Reserve. On the arrival of Hoaki and Taukata to the area in search of their sister, Kanioro, they were treated to a feast consisting of fern root, berries, and other forest foods. Upon tasting these foods they took an instant dislike to them, remarking that it was just like eating wood. It was from this event that Toi became known as Toi-kai-rakau (Toi the vegetarian). Hoaki and Taukata asked for a bowl of water in which they added dried preserved kumara or kao and asked their hosts to taste it. Having tasted this delicious kai they desired to have more of it. A canoe was built from driftwood log (tawhaowhao) and named accordingly Te Ara Tawhao. Tama ki Hikurangi was chosen to captain the canoe to go in search of the source of the kumara. These events occurred near Te Haehaenga, the beach immediately below Koohi near the Whakatane River.
A significant event in the history of Ngati Awa was the arrival of the waka Mataatua, captained by Toroa, the chief of Mataatua and one of the principal ancestors of Ngati Awa. Mataatua faced rough waters as it approached the headland at Whakatane (Koohi Point). The turbulence was so bad that it caused the daughter of Toroa, Wairaka, to suffer the indignity of experiencing sea sickness. The teiirt by which Ngati Awa tipuna later called this experience was “ko-hi”
(to be ill). Hence the name by which the rocks, the point, and adjacent land is known today.
The name Koohi is well known in the traditions of Ngati Awa and appears in several waiata and in the following well known proverb:
Nga mate i Koohi me tangi mai i Kawerau, nga mate o Kawerau me tangi atu i Koohi.
The deaths at Koohi will be wept over at Kawerau and the deaths at Kawerau will be wept over at Koohi.
Ngati Awa have traditionally regarded the Koohi Point Rocks as toka tipua (rocks imbued with spiritual and sacred qualities) and the places as papanga tawhito (ancient sites of traditional significance). Ngati Awa tipuna used the naming of the rocks at Koohi to record significant events and rangatira throughout their history. The Koohi Point Rocks have been personalised with the names of some of those involved in the Mataatua canoe's lengthy ocean passage. The Koohi Point Rocks are made up of a number of different rocks, some of which are referred to here to signify the importance of the Koohi Point Scenic Reserve and contiguous coastal area to Ngati Awa. All the Koohi Point Rocks, aside from Hine-tu-aho-anga, Hi-moki, and Toka-tapu, are owned by Ngati Awa.
Hi-moki is in the mouth of the Whakatane River and was regarded as a very significant fishing spot. The next Koohi Point Rock is Hinetu-aho-anga, named after a woman who was a leader of the sand-stone people back in the ancient lands of Hawaiki. This rock was used for sharpening tools in ancient times.
To the west of Koohi Pa is Te Puke a Hawaiki, also known as Hingarae or Sugar Loaf Rock. This rock was named after an accident where a rangatira slipped and hit his forehead. Next to Hingarae are Te Toka Koakaroa, commonly referred to as Koakaroa, which is the traditional name of the entrance to the Whakatane River, and Areiawa. The latter is submerged in the channel of the 2 former rocks and is historically known as the guardian rock of the Whakatane River. Sited amongst these rocks is Toka Kuku-poniania, commonly referred to as Niania Rock. Niania is a species of mussel commonly found in the area.
Kopua Huruhuru is an area of water north-east of Te Puke a Hawaiki and encompasses the shoreline and bed of rocks north of it. This area was well known as a harvesting place for seafood. Below the very point of this headland are Koohi Point and Rukupo rocks. The latter rock is significant in Ngati Awa mythology in that it was here that the famous tohunga Te Tahinga o te Rangi rested when he returned from Whakari (White Island).
On the eastern coastline of Koohi Point Scenic Reserve is Te Toka o te Rua o te Ika (Fish Hole), a bay renowned by Ngati Awa for the varieties of fish that dwell there. In the middle of this bay is a rock island of the same name. Located off its eastern point is a submerged rock called Whakari of the same name as the island volcano. Whakari and the adjourning bay, Pipiko, are popular nesting areas for the grey-faced petrel commonly known as muttonbird or tiff. The area was also a popular spot from which Ngati Awa people collected kaimoana including koura, paua, and kina. Paparoa and Otarawairere are also areas on the eastern side of Koohi Point Scenic Reserve that were well known as recreational sites for the collection of seafood.
The particular Ngati Awa hapu who lived on and around the lands of the Koohi Point Scenic Reserve were Te Patutatahi or Ngai Taiwhakaea II, Ngati Hokopu, and Ngati Pukeko (which was previously referred to as Ngai Tonu). Patutahora and Ngati Rangataua were divisions of Ngati Pukeko. Ngati Wharepaia, a division of Ngati Hokopu, and Te Patuwai also have historical and cultural connections to Koohi Point by virtue of their descent from the Ngati Awa ancestors, Taiwhakaea I, Te Rangitipukiwaho I, Taiwhakaea II, Nukutaimehameha, Paiaka, Te Hemahema, Te Putarera, and Te Hamaiwaho. Other hapu of the area included Ngati Ikapuku, Ngati Maumoana, Ngati Hore, Ngati Paeko, Ngati Whakapoi, and Ngati Whakahinga.
Ngati Awa people occupied a number of pa sites at Koohi Point. Aside from Kaputerangi, the famous pa of Toi, there was a neighbouring pa site called Orahiri. Orahiri derived its name from Rahiri, the son of Puhi-moana-ariki, the brother of Toroa. Although there were other pa sites on Koohi Point during the time of Puhi and Toroa, Orahiri was the only settlement with a chief, namely Puhi. Toroa himself lived on the flat lands below Koohi Point.
There was an instance during the kumara planting season when Puhi, who lived at Koohi Point, being jealous of his older brother Toroa for holding the mana of Mataatua as bestowed upon him by his father Irakewa, set out to insult his tuakana (older brother). After hearing the insult directed at him by his younger brother, Toroa reciprocated. Bitter resentment arose between the 2 brothers, with Puhi deciding to take the Mataatua waka and seek a new home in the North.
Papa-Whariki was another area of occupation by Ngati Awa at Koohi Point. Papa-Whariki overlooked Te Ana o Muriwai (Muriwai's Cave). There were three sites at Papa-Whariki. Below this site, directly opposite Te Ana o Muriwai at the water front, once stood Irakewa Island. Irakewa was the father of Toroa. The island held a spiritual significance for Ngati Awa as descendants of this ancestor.
Another pa at Koohi Point was Taumata Kahawai. The name of this pa signifies a lookout place for Kahawai. Taumata Kahawai was occupied by the chief Taiwhakaea I, founder of the hapu of Te Patutatahi or Ngai Taiwhakaea and of Ngati Ikapuku. These hapu were responsible for observing the ocean and surrounding shores for possible invasion and shoals of fish.
Other pa sites within the Koohi Point Scenic Reserve include Te Rae o te Tamure, Koohi, and Te Whakatere. Te Rae o te Tamure Pa is situated on the ridge between Ohope West and Otarawairere beach at Koohi Point. It runs north from the vicinity of Otarawairere down to the cliffs at the seaside edge of the ridge. Situated at the bottom of the cliff is a very important fishing rock called Whanga-panui where snapper would gather in abundance (hence the name “The Gathering Place of Snapper”
).
There were other pa sites at Koohi Point, adjacent to the modern day Koohi Point Scenic Reserve. Papaka was located directly above Pohaturoa Rock at Koohi Point. Opposite and south of Papaka is another well known pa site, Puketapu. To the east of Papaka and towards Te Wairere Falls were Koohinepipi and Tamatea-Iwi. Below these pa to the north-east was Kuharoa. Further Ngati Awa pa at Koohi Point were Hauwai, Kuharua, Kaeaea, Pahau, Tikotikorere, and Tirotiro Whetu. These were all settlements named and occupied by Ngati Awa. The people of these pa also utitilised the abundant resources of the Koohi Point Scenic Reserve.
The various pa and other sites within and in the vicinity of Koohi Point Scenic Reserve demonstrate the general and special significance of the statutory area to Ngati Awa. They show how the region has been occupied by Ngati Awa hapu since the time of the Mataatua waka and before.
The Ngati Awa tipuna had considerable knowledge of whakapapa, traditional trails and tauranga waka, places for gathering kai and other taonga, ways in which to use the resources of the Koohi Point area, the relationship of people with the area and their dependence on it, and tikanga for the proper and sustainable utilisation of resources. All of these values remain important to the people of Ngati Awa today. —
Koohi Point Scenic Reserve is the repository of many koiwi tangata, secreted away in places throughout the Reserve. Urupa are the resting places of Ngati Awa tipuna and, as such, are the focus of whanau traditions. Urupa and wahi tapu are places holding the memories, traditions, victories, and defeats of Ngati Awa tipuna, and are frequently protected in secret locations.
The mauri of the coastal area represents the essence that binds the physical and spiritual elements of all things together, generating and upholding all life. All elements of the natural environment possess a life force and all forms of life are related. Mauri is a critical element of the spiritual relationship of Ngati Awa whanui to Koohi Point Scenic Reserve.
Purposes of statutory acknowledgement
Under section 41, and without limiting the rest of this schedule, the purposes of this statutory acknowledgement are—
(a) to require that relevant consent authorities, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, or the Environment Court, as the case may be, have regard to this statutory acknowledgement in relation to Koohi Point, as provided in sections 42 to 44; and
Limitations on effect of statutory acknowledgement
Except as expressly provided in sections 41 to 44 and 47,—
(a) this statutory acknowledgement does not affect, and is not to be taken into account in, the exercise of any power, duty, or function by any person or entity under any statute, regulation, or bylaw; and
(b) no person or entity, in considering any matter or making any decision or recommendation under any statute, regulation, or bylaw, may give any greater or lesser weight to Ngati Awa's association with Koohi Point than that person or entity would give under the relevant statute, regulation, or bylaw, if this statutory acknowledgement had not been made.
Except as expressly provided in subpart 3 of Part 4, this statutory acknowledgement does not affect the lawful rights or interests of any person who is not a party to the deed of settlement. Except as expressly provided in subpart 3 of Part 4, this statutory acknowledgement does not have the effect of granting, creating, or providing evidence of any estate or interest in, or any rights of any kind whatsoever relating to, Koohi Point.
No limitation on the Crown
The existence of this statutory acknowledgement does not prevent the Crown from providing a statutory acknowledgement in respect of Koohi Point to a person or persons other than Ngati Awa or a representative entity.