Wairaka is one of the Marae's of Rob's Iwi. Wairaka is special to him, and it has become special to us. On the day of our wedding we had photos both in front of the marae, and in front of the statue at the river mouth that commemorates the bravery of Wairaka.
Wairaka was on one of the original seven canoes that came from Hawaiiki, the ancestral homeland of the Maori. When the men had gone ashore to scout the area, the canoe became loose, and started drifting out to sea. Although paddles were Tapu (sacred), and only men were allowed to use them, Wairaka cried out and took up a paddle saving the women. Legend tells that as she paddled to safety, she cried out in prayer “Kia Whakatane au i ahau (let me act like a man)".
Here are some shots we got one evening, when we were home in December, hope you enjoy our photos!
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| Wairaka, the rivermouth and the view out to Motouhora. |
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| Sunset over Mount Putauaki in the background. |
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| Wairaka on her rock. |
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