Kipa Roera and family. Kipa is the oldest living descendent of the chief Te Ahu Karamu. He is the present leader of Ngati-Kikopiri hapu, Muhunoa W, Ohau. 7 June 1936. Adkin, George Leslie, 1888-1964 :Photographs of New Zealand geology, geography, and the Maori history of Horowhenua. Ref: PA1-f-005-403. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23132075

Photograph taken by Leslie Adkin on 1 January 1913 of Maud Herd standing by the Ohau River. She is holding a fishing rod, net and a fish she has just caught.

From: Collection at Te Papa - online at http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/42105

CaptureYourHorowhenua photography competition - Nature & Adventure / April 2022. This photo was taken at Clay Banks, Ōhau, in production for a Visual EP called UHA by Te KuraHuia. Photographer: Faith Oriwia Henare-Stewart.

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CaptureYourHorowhenua is a district-wide amateur photography competition that encourages Horowhenua residents to showcase what they love about their district.

The images are exhibited at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, and the winner is decided by public vote.

CaptureYourHorowhenua photography competition - Nature & Adventure / April 2022.

This photo was taken at Clay Banks, Ōhau, in production for a Visual EP called UHA by Te KuraHuia.

Photographer: Faith Oriwia Henare-Stewart.

CaptureYourHorowhenua is a district-wide amateur photography competition that encourages Horowhenua residents to showcase what they love about their district. The images are exhibited at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, and the winner is decided by public vote.

This colonial-style, 4 bedroomed, rural house on 1.0513 Ha was listed for sale online in January 2014.

It was described:

• Driving up the road and seeing this home for the first time will make you appreciate the location and the ambiance this property provides.
• Views of the river and bush out one window and Tararuas out the other.
• Large home just waiting to share the spoils with a family who enjoys swimming, biking, and having room to move.
• 5 small paddocks to graze and a decent lawn to play or create more gardens.
• 1.0513ha

This 3 bedroomed cottage was for sale on TradeMe oin November 2013 for $195,000.

It was described:

• This is as cute as the name suggests.
• Located on a well-established corner section it has been lovingly refurbished and refreshed.
• Gardens have been cleared and reformed, yet maintaining the established specimens therefore creating a delightful environment for the new owners to enjoy and treasure.
• Even though only 80sqm the cottage offers ample space for a couple or small family, features being a new kitchen, spacious lounge and three bedrooms.
• Additional outbuildings include a large storage shed plus a double garage, plenty of room for cars and other equipment one needs to maintain a 1/4 acre section.
• Ohau is a sought after location being only a few minutes from Levin township offering great schooling, cafes and a sought after wine producing vineyard to enjoy.

Cabbage trees against the sky at sunset at Ohau, on State Highway 1.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Alex Hogg’s farm in Hoggs Road Ohau, at milking time. In the background are the Tararua Ranges.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Milking time at Alex Hogg’s farm in Hoggs Road Ohau. In the background are the Tararua Ranges.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen: “1st 10 years, pupils.”

Also penciled on back: “Ohau School 60 years Jubilee, 18/8/51.”

Written with black ballpoint pen on paper attached to back with glue: Back Row : Bill Nesbit, ........ , Henry Rolston, Harry Saint, E. Pink. Second Back : Bill Mudgway, George Edhouse, Miss Dinan, ........ , Ruth Read, Whareo Seymour, Albert Mudgway, ......... , Eric McLeavy, ......... , Richard Rolston , Bob Whiley, Samuel Rolston, Miss Newton, Fred Boothe, Clyde Saint, Ned Doyle. Sitting : Mai Perrawit, Elsie Rolston, ......... , Myrtl Harrington, Maud Saint, Blanche Shepherd, ......... , Hilda Royal, Grace Saint, ......... , Martha Bassett. Front Row : Edgar Williams, Ted Williams, Jim Williams, ......... , Len Drake, Fred Whiley.”

Pupils from the 1st 10 years of the Ohau School at the school’s 60th Jubilee 18/8/51. The names of some of the people in the photograph are on the reverse.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

NOTE: NORTH is to the BOTTOM of the photo.

Number at side of photo – 3422 / 6

Penciled on back – Ohau

Stamped on back - CROWN COPYRIGHT Additional copies of this Photograph may be obtained on application to the Surveyor-General, Lands and Survey Dept., Wellington.

Also stamped on back – N.Z. Aerial Mapping Ltd, Hastings

Aerial view of Ohau and Ohau River, 1965

Also shows the Horticultural Research Centre and Kimberley Centre.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Number at side of photo – 230 / 11

Written on back – Ohau

Stamped on back - CROWN COPYRIGHT Additional copies of this Photograph can be obtained on application to the:- Surveyor-General, Lands and Survey Dept. Wellington

Also stamped on back – N.Z. Aerial Mapping Ltd, Hastings

Aerial view of Ohau River from Ohau to Kirkcaldies Bridge, 1942

One of 3 overlapping photos of the Ohau River from Ohau to Gladstone Road (see #.0003b & c). See also – #.0004a & b Ohau River, Kimberley Road and Gladstone Road. These two sets of photos overlap each other.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

One man, two women and two children, all unidentified, at the Ohau River.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back - Fire which destroyed the house of Mr & Mrs Toms, Ohau. Thurs. May 2nd, 1968.

Stamped on back with green ink – 2 MAY 1968

Stamped on back with black ink - Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. 137 Date.

Fire destroying house, Ohau, 1968 1 B&W photo print

Burning house of Mr & Mrs Toms. Brick chimney is the only part of the building remaining. Photo taken at night with flames consuming the last of the combustible material.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Mrs Ani Wehipeihana surrounded by family members at her 97th birthday celebrations at Tukorehe Marae, Ohau. This photograph has been taken on the porch of the wharenui (meeting house)

1 B&W photo print (plus duplicate)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Thursday April 9th

Court sat at 10am

Present: Thos H Smith - Judge

W. B. White and J. Rogan - Judges

Same Assessors

Himatangi - continued -

Mr Fox stated that he should now call Ngati Raukawa witnesses.

Horomona Toremi - Sworn

Otaki - Te Patutukituki, Ngatiraukawa and Ngati Whakane -

I was with Nepia Taratoa - ws with him at his death and was left by him in charge of his eldest son - has a document to this effect - came here with a 'heke' of Ngati Raukawa - the east 'heke; between I and 2 years after Whatanui's 'heke;

I don't know anything of Whatanui's 'heke' - the land had been taken by Rauparaha.

I came down the Rangitikei to Te Awamate - there were 200 men of my 'heke' - Moko Moko Chief of Ngati Apa was there and Te Ata and Tutahi - we crossed to Pukepuke where we found Te Rua, Chief of Ngatiapa and Tuawhea and Peketau (Ratana's father) with his wife - we came on to Ohau (Ngatiapa received us hospitably and gave us eels and fern root) - came on to Otaki - we found the first 'heke' of Ngatiraukawa there at the mouth of Otaki and tangi with them - then the expedition to Kaiapohia - my 'heke' remained here to collect flax and cultivated here that year - at a place called Taranaki (3 acres) near Katihikie.

Aperahama Te Ruru and Parakaia cultivated - I came across to Te Roto Whakahokiri to my fathers cultivation (Haerewharara the brother of my mother).

I went to Huritini to collect flax - went to Okaka at Ohau and to Te Rata which belonged to Ihakara's 'tupuna' Iaikapurua - I returned to Otaki - then the 'heke' of Ngatiruanui, Taranaki and Ngatiawa came to Ohau there were about 1000 men of them - they came on here and 'Ka patu e Ngatiraukawa'

Tawake a Ngatiwawa Chief was killed - this was the Haowhenua business - when the Ngatiwawa of Waikanae (the 1600) heard that this 'pito' of them had been 'patued' they came from Waikanae and built the Haowhenua 'pa' - Ngatiraukawa fought and 2 Ngatiruanui's were taken to the 'pa' and 3 of the Waikanae 1600 - Ngati Tu wharetoa - Te Heu heu - Waikato - Ngati [Marui - undecipherable] Whanganui Te Reanuku (Tohi's brother) Ngati Whakane.

We were there one year - we had been surrounded by the enemy when his sucessor arrived and saved us - there was a fight between these allies and Ngati awa at Te Horowhuo. Tupe o tu and Te Hau te Horo fell - Ngatiawa came back to Haowhenua, a fight ensued and Papaka of Te Wharetoa and Te Hika of Ngati Whakane fell. We then went on to Waikanae and on our return came along close to Haowhenua 'pa' Ngati Awa and Ngati Toa (Kataha a Ngati Ta=oa) sallied out and killed some.

Rauparaha was with Ngatiraukawa. Rangihaeata was with the Ngati Toa who sided with Ngati Awa.

After this the allies returned and then we left our 'pa' - we ran to Ohau and stopped there - we were afraid of Ngati Awa - 'Ka Pakaru' the 'Kohainga'.We remained at Ohau - Ihakara and his 'tupuna' Tai Kapurua went to Manawatu - Te Hiko and Chiefs of Ngati Toa then followed Rauparaha in canoes and brought him back again.

At Ohau Rauparaha embarked to go to Kapiti. Rauparaha Te Whatanui - kiharoa Te Puke, Te Matia and Ngakuku of my 'hapu'.

My tribes remained at Ohau, Nepia Kuruho Aperahama Huruhu - (Ngati Parewaka waha). and (Patutukituki) Haerewharara, Honerite and I - then we went to Rangitikei.

We went 'ki te whakahoa i a ngatiapa' - we were not invited but went of our own accord - don't know about Hakeke inviting us - we went there after Haowhenua and made friends after we got there - there were 60 men who went - some joined us on the road on the other side of Manawatu - Kingi Aho aho was one - we went up and found Ngatiapa at Te Ana - - 40 of them - (Names Chiefs of Ngati Apa there) - Ngati Tupataua a 'hapu Rangatira' of Ngati Apa - lived together with Ngati Apa - Hunia's tale about our going to Matahiwi and Waituna to Hakeke's 'pa' is correct -

We left Waituna and came to Te Ana and built a 'pa' on the other side of Rangitikei - built it with Ngati Apa - we had become one tribe and lived together - after 2 years stay there Kawana Paipai's father Tawhito came - came to ask us to avenge some Ngati Apa Chiefs killed at Waitotara - We went and Kiatanui at Waitotara was taken - I took a Chief of Ngati Apa Takanirangi and let him go - Tapa's brother also shot a Whanganui.

We returned to Te Ana and Whanganui attacked Ngati Papa at Whangaehu and killed Whainga Piking as 'tua kaua' in payment for those who had been killed of their tribe - Turangapito sent for my father to go with the 'tawa toto' and to bury Whainga who had been left to lie where she was killed - went and at Whangaehu were surprised in the night by Whanganui - a 'pononga' of mine (Turingonge) was taken and we bolted into the river Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Apa - I and Turangapito held them - Whanganui rushed on us and captured Haerewharara's brother and carried him off gun and all --- this was about 4am.

I rallied our party and killed Takarangi and Whanganui bolted and left him. We returned to Te Ana and then crossed Rangitikei being afraid of Wanganui, Tapa's father Te Wata Heino Kanga and Pukerimu Ngati Kauhata Chiefs - came to see us and Ngati Tuputaua 'hapu' of Ngati Apa pointed out land for us to occupy.Rangitane up Rangitikei - Tomo Kauga was also a place were we were allowed to go to get 'Kakariki' and Te puta Te Rake hou.

We had a 'Waerenga' at Te Koeka near Rakehou - Hakaraia Pouri (NgatiApa) Te Rongo (Ngati Raukawa and Manihera aki (NgatiApa) Te NgaWha (NgatiApa) - after a time left... [the rest of this transcript is in part 2]

When the school closed in 2005, they presented some records to the Horowhenua Historical Society who, in turn, have made this information available here.

Designed by Frederick de J.Clere and built in 1901.

Located on State Highway 1, Kuku, this building became Tui Trading. In 2007 it is now the RD1 store.

The Horowhenua District Council maintains a register of Notable Buildings; these are the ones located in Ohau.

I am requesting information on the Drake & Barnes families who lived in Ohau, Levin.

1) One of Levin's early sawmills.
Prouse family moved into Levin sawmill: sons tell of walk into settlement.

It was a bright sunny day following a hard mid-winter frost in the year 1891 when two young lads walked down the railway line through areas of dense bush into the settlement of Levin. Accompanying them was their father, Mr. James Prouse, who, together with his brother, Mr. Richard Prouse, was to establish a sawmill in the large tract of bush they had acquired.

Opened in 1925, the Ohau Post Office is located on the corner of Muhunoa West Road and State Highway 1.

Sunday morning, up with the larks! Always refreshing to greet a new day in person! Taken at the Ohau river mouth.

Penciled on back - 44 yr old Marathon runner Dennis Stephenson paces through Ohau on the last day of his Auckland to Wgtn run, with national soccer coach Barry Truman. Wed. Dec. 16, 1970.

Stamped on back with black ink - Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. 137 Date.

Dennis Stephenson (left), a 44 yr old Marathon runner, paces through Ohau on the last day of his Auckland to Wellington run, with national soccer coach, Barry Truman (right). 1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”