Community Contributed

Mahoenui Kainga, Ohau

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T17:00:52+00:00
A former village of the Mua-upoko but later occupied by Ngati-Raukawa when the Mua-upoko were confined to the area of sanctuary provided for them by Te Whatanui.
LocationMap VI Adkin

Mahoe-nui was situated on the dune-belt a short distance north of Lake Papaitonga.

In the ‘70’s when Kawana Hunia te Hakeke instigated the acts of aggression on the part of the Mua-upoko with the object of throwing off the Ngati-Raukawa yoke, Mahoe-nui was one of a series of villages burned, the others being Koutu-roa and a small settlement at Rakau-­hamama (or Ure-hamama) Lagoon. At Mahoe-nui the principal Ngati­Raukawa owners were Watene Tiwaewae (Ngati-Pareraukawa hapu) and Puke to Paia, and their houses were burned. It was in revenge for this that the latter chief built Taheke pa on the Hokio Stream in opposition to Kemp's Pipiriki pa.

The exact site of Mahoe-nui is said to have been on the crest of the dune-ridge west of and immediately above the second angle at the south end of the present Arawhata Road. At this place there certainly appear to be a number of small depressions on the ridge-top that may mark former whare-sites but a rank growth of grass there makes certain identification difficult. Occasional mahoe still grow on the dunes hereabouts and presumably a particularly large or fine specimen of this tree (Melicytrrs ramflorus) grew near by and gave the village its name.

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