26
t e t i r a ho e o
wa i k at o
– honou r i ng
ou r a n c e s t r a l r i v e r
Hosted every two years, Te Tira Hoe
is an opportunity for tribal members
to journey on the Waikato River to
learn history and participate in a range
of hands-on experiences aimed at
enhancing the relationship our people
have with their ancestral awa.
In April last year, around 60 tribal
members young and old, travelled the
length of the Waikato River – 125kms
by river and 300kms by road.
The journey commenced at the river’s
source Waikato Iti under the canopy of
Mount Ruapehu, and concluded at Port
Waikato where the river flows into the
Tasman Sea.
The tira hoe included three marae stays
with historical koorero at significant
stops along the way. The roopu were
hosted by:
• Ngaati Rangi at Mount Ruapehu;
• Tuuwharetoa at Motuoapa Bay near
Turangi;
• Ngaati Tahu Ngaati Whaoa overnight
at Te Ohaaki Marae in Reporoa for
Kai hakari at Orakei Koorako;
• Ngaati Korooki Kahukura at the
Karaapiro Domain;
• Ngaa Whaanau o Turangawaewae
Marae overnight in Ngaaruawaahia;
• Ngaa Whaanau o Waahi Paa;
• Ngaa Whaanau o Rangiriri Paa and
battle site;
• Ngaa Whaanau o Ngaa Tai E Rua
Marae overnight in Tuakau;
• Ngaa Whaanau o Te Puuaha o
Waikato at the Elbow at Aka Aka; and
• Ngaa Whaanau o Te Puuaha o
Waikato at Maraetai Bay.
Seventeen-year-old
Te Amorangi
Flavell-Heremaia
is in her final
year at Waikato Diocesan School
for Girls, and has been supporting
her mum Donna to host tira hoe
since she was 13. An avid waka
ama enthusiast and regional
representative, ‘Amo’ says Te Tira
Hoe o Waikato is “a mean way to
get our people onto the awa”.
“Paddling is one of my favourite
things to do. The tira hoe should
be available to Waikato schools
as a camp option. I think heaps of
kids would like to do something
like this and learn about why our
awa is so important.”
“I think heaps of kids
would like to learn
about why our awa
is so important.”
Te Amorangi Flavell-Heremaia.
Aka Aka
Maraetai Bay
Ngaa Tai E Rua Marae
Rangiriri Paa & Battle Site
Waahi Paa
Taupiri
Turangawaewae Marae
Horotiu
Kirikiriroa
Karaapiro
Orakei Koorako
Te Ohaaki Marae
Motuoapa Bay
Turangi
Ruapehu
Te Tira Hoe O Waikato 2013.
Te Tira Hoe
is an opportunity for tribal members to journey
on the Waikato River to learn history and participate in a
range of hands-on experiences.
