The tapu rock of Kawakawa

In the photo from left to right: Paritautari, Hemi Honihana, Riri Maihi Te Kawiti, Maihi Taku Brown, D. Penney, Te Kirihiko Pirihito. Photo from Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira. 

Up until 1928 there existed a large rock in Kawakawa/Taumarere that was considered to be Tapu (sacred) by the local Maori. The story behind it goes like this:

The rock was once located on the left hand side of the Kawakawa-Opua Road between Taumarere and the Tirohanga turnoff, standing approx 4 metres high.  It was a resting place for the tupuna travellers from the inland as they journeyed to Taumarere from the coast and return. It is also said that the people of the local hapu (tribe) would gather there in times of peace or in times of war - the rock being the oracle.

There was no shortage of of similar rocks in and around Kawakawa, but this rock wasn't limestone like those in Waiomio but a volcanic stone like those around Pakuru. As a result people would leave pieces of greenery and foliage in the crevaces as an offering. When the first automobile road was mooted, a delegation of local rangatira (elders) from Waiomio, Motatau, Otiria, Whangae, Taumarere, Karetu, Waihaha, Waikare and Kawakawa went to see the Bay of Islands County Council to ask that the roadway should not involve moving the rock in any way. 

The council at the time ordered a double deviation, a gentle s-bend around the stone to preserve it to it's resting place. However much later a new order of councillors were elected and with roading engineers who were more ruthless in their approach. Eliminate the s-bend said one sending a grader driver to do just that. This happened around 1929 and local hapu were horrified - they were forced to take action. Led by Te Riri Maihi Kawiti a delegation travelled to the council who again acceded to the wishes of the rangatira.

They replaced the stone to it's original resting place and swung the road well out to the right to avoid it. Eventually with newer cars and more road improvements in the late 1940s along came another soulless roading engineer and the rock was pushed off it's perch. The rock was then completely destroyed by blasting with it's shattered pieces used for base metal for the new road.

Join us on Facebook at the Northland Heritage Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1109709272401824/