Kia tū ake te mana o Te Waiariki

Te Waiariki are an ancient hapū who descend from the marriages of the Ngāi Tāhuhu sisters Te Huaki and Te Kahuwhero to the Te Waiariki brothers, Tūkaiteuru and Te Uhi (or Uwhi).

The tribal boundaries of Te Waiariki extend from Te Ihu o Manaia at Tutukaka to Te Whara (Bream Head) extending on toward Whangarei Te Renga Paraoa and into Te Ahupupurangi. Te Waiariki entrenched themselves within this vast landscape and by 1800, had established settlements and kainga along the  coastline and inland blocks of whenua toward Kauri, Maunga Taika, Waikare, Rukuai, Nukurarangi, Taiharuru, Taranui, Tahere, Whānau Whānui, Pātaua, Pūkahakaha, Ōhuatau, Horahora, Ngunguru, Kiripaka, Maruata, Ōwhetū and Whareora.

Te Waiariki continue to recognise their Mana Motuhake in the Te Whara landscape. This location of Te Whara (Bream Head) and close surrounding areas hold great cultural significance for Te Waiariki through their tupuna Tuatahi.

Te Whara is a beautiful and rugged terrain which is known and recognised as  wāhi rongonui and wāhi tapū (cultural sites of significance) for Te Waiariki. We encourage those who will be using these tracks to be cautions and respectful of these spaces at all times.  Karakia will be done at the beginning of the event to protect  the general public whilst they move across these tracks.

We invite those members of the general public and community to participate in karakia prior to embarking on the tracks to ensure safe passage and for the purposes of cultural and spiritual protection.

Mauri ora ki te whai ao ki ao marama!

Te Waiariki, Ngāti Takapari, Ngāti Kororā Hapu Iwi Trust