Ahipara
Re-Written By: Kelsey Frances Maccarthy-Morrogh
A very long time ago in Ahipara a place many of us call home stood two tribes, Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri. They were at war because they both wanted possession of 90-mile beach Poroa- the chief of Te Rarawa had pushed Te Aupouri til they shattered. Te Rararwa had won so they made peace settling into there new homes. Poroa had made marked off where the boundary was for both tribes. To further the peace, Te Aupouri gave Poroa a wife. She was called Whangatauatia. She had great chiefly status. When Poroa returned to his pa he renamed his pa Whangatauatia in honour of his wife. Peace became for many many years, Poroa then died. He died an honourable death. To contain his soul they put a tapu on the beach. They also put a ban on the gathering of all birds, fish and shellfish. Then, a year later, the tapu was lifted a great feast was held and they set Poroa’s spirit free food was cooked by a special fire and some were put aside as an offering of peace and to help Poroa on his journey to the overworld. That’s how Ahipara got its name
Ahi- Meaning fire
Parapara-The roasted fish that was put aside as an offering
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