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Story: Te Whakatōhea

Tangata whenua pou

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Tangata whenua pou

The first carving tells the story of Tarawa, who sailed with his brother Tāwharanui from Hawaiki. They brought two pet tānahanaha fish and released them in a small spring close by. The spring became known as Ōpōtiki-mai-tawhiti, ‘two pets from afar’, and the name of Ōpōtiki township recalls the event. The carving also shows the two voyaging canoes, Te Arautauta and Te Tohorā.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Shirley Williams

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How to cite this page

Ranginui Walker, Te Whakatōhea – Ancestors, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/2437/tangata-whenua-pou (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ranginui Walker, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.