Wharenui Road

Wharenui road derives its name from ‘Te Whare-nui-aa-Manawa’: The big house of Manawa.

Approx. 200 years ago Manawa, the grandson of Te Rorooterangi (the ancestral leader of the Owhata area), as a young future leader of Ngāti Whakaue, was given the lead ‘Tiaki whenua’ on the Whakapoungakau mountain range. This was from the southern end of Pukepoto, moving southwards to the hill tops of Manawa. This role was to ensure sustainability and protection of the resources within the mountain range, that provided the tribe with water, food, clothing, warmth, and shelter.

The main resources were forestry, bird life, spring water, river plants and fish life. The forest trees that were prolific in this time were Puketaawhero (within the Owhata area) and Tawa (within the Lynmore area). These trees were highly sought after by other tribes, especially for the food that they produced. Therefore, if other tribes wanted some of these resources and they entered the area uninvited/kore kawa, it was considered an act of hostility.

Hence the purpose of Manawa and his group of warrior’s role, to set up Wharepuni/camp-sites to guard and patrol the area against uninvited tribes. Therein all of these campsites were placed strategically throughout the mountain range which gave birth to the name ‘Te Whare-nui aa Manawa.’ His main camp was on the hills of Manawa which is a cluster of hilltops called ‘Te Pakihiwi aa Manawa.’ These hilltops are situated at the southern end of the mountain range that borders on to and above the Tarawera road.