The legend of Wairaka | |
A long time ago The Daughter of Chief Toroa Wairaka and her tribe the Ngati Awa were sailing across aotearoa with their waka the Mataatua. Wairaka and her tribe saw this exquisite beach in the distance they started to paddle from right to left. They got to the beach then the men hopped onto the land to try and find some food and water for all of them because they were starving. | |
Suddenly there was an enormous storm about to rise up into the ocean. The Clouds started to turn grey and they slowly gathered together like it was a party. Waves started to crash all over the place like the waves weren’t there. The frothed waves were like making coffee. Soon it wasn’t going to be safe around the area. The Mataatua Waka was going to capsize . All of the children were crying like they just lost all of their toys. All of the women were screaming as loud as they could so the men could save them. But the men didn’t hear the women scream for the men to save the women and children. | |
Wairaka had to make a stubborn decision. She picked up the paddle which was tapu (sacried) . She knows that women aren’t allowed to even touch any paddle. But she knew something had to be done. She prayed to her ancestors and said these words “Kia Whakatane a u i ahau Let me act like a man”. | |
With one all mighty push Wairaka saved her tribe. | |
Drained Wairaka and her tribe the Ngati Awa were relieved because they got back to shore and didn’t die. Wairaka and the Ngati Awa tribe found the beach was a good environment for them to stay. Making a decision, they lived on that beach for a while. They decided to name the beach whakatane because of Wairaka’s words “ Kia Whakatane a u ahau” that she said. Now you can actually see Wairaka standing on top of a rock at Whakatane beach that she saved her tribe on. Wairaka went on many adventures that we will save for another time. |
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