Didn’t the early T\u0101maki M\u0101ori know something special about this place? I am standing at Kauri Point Birkenhead / Te M\u0101t\u0101-rae-o-Mana. This headland has a rich history that stretches back centuries. It was once a strategic p\u0101 for Te Kawerau \u0101 Maki.
Let’s delve into the story of Te M\u0101t\u0101rae \u014d Mana. This wasn’t just any settlement. It was the “Brow of Mana” named after the ancestor Manaoterangi. He was a rangatira of this p\u0101 in the mid-18th century. However, the p\u0101 itself was likely built in the 17th century.
Imagine this place bustling with activity. Te M\u0101t\u0101rae \u014d Mana overlooked an important shark fishery. This tauranga mango drew seasonal visitors. People came from all over T\u0101maki Makurau and the Hauraki Gulf during the summer months. Important rangatira like Kiwi T\u0101maki also came.
Manaoterangi had close ties to other chiefs. He was related to Tuperiri of Te Tao\u016b/Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua. He was married to Waikahuia. She was the sister of Waiohua paramount chief Kiwi T\u0101maki. These connections kept his people safe during conflicts. At the end of his life, Manaoterangi entrusted his people to Tuperiri. They eventually became Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua \u014cr\u0101kei.
By the early 19th century, the area around Hellyers Creek was densely settled by T\u0101maki M\u0101ori. Oruamo or Hellyers Creek was an important transportation route. Even in the early 1820s, Te Tao\u016b/Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua \u014cr\u0101kei members lived at Te M\u0101t\u0101rae a Mana seasonally.
The Musket Wars brought upheaval. Most M\u0101ori fled the North Shore for Waikato or Northland. In 1823, a night raid destroyed Te M\u0101t\u0101rae \u014d Mana and Rongohau.
When T\u0101maki M\u0101ori returned, they reoccupied Te M\u0101t\u0101rae \u014d Mana and Rongohau. This lasted until the early 1840s. The shark fishery remained important. In 1844, sharks were caught here for the feast of Remuera. As late as the 1860s, many M\u0101ori fishing boats worked these waters.
Other significant sites existed around Birkenhead. Maunganui or Mangonui was a p\u0101 on the Kauri Point ridge. Ngutuwera was an inland p\u0101 used for snaring k\u0101k\u0101. Traditional names marked the bays Wararoa, Onetaunga, Wa Iti o Toroa, Kaiwhanake and Opaketai.
Today, Kauri Point Birkenhead / Te M\u0101t\u0101-rae-o-Mana stands as a reminder of this past. As you explore this area, remember the stories of Manaoterangi and his people. Envision the shark fishery teeming with life and the strategic importance of this headland.