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Papaka Redoubt

Te Papaka

Te Papaka pa is rich in Ngāti Awa history. Many important chiefs have lived at the site.

The site is located on the ridge known as Taketake. The Waiewe Stream flows between Te Papaka and another pa site, Puketapu. To the east is a fortified pa site called Hauwai.

The name Te Papaka, or crab, derives from a time when the renowned Ngāti Awa ancestor Awanuiarangi was gathering seafood at nearby Otawaha. His wife Ahiahiotahu remarked that his stance was like that of a crab crawling, so the pa became known as Te Papaka o Awanuiarangi, later shortening it to Te Papaka.

Over the generations, Ngāti Awa chiefs who have lived on the pa site included Ruaihona, Te Ketetuitui, Wairaka, Awaheinui, Tuteiere, Rakaumoana and Awatope.

Another incident of Te Papaka happened while the chief, Te Tangihouhiri, and his travelling party arrived at the pa while scouting around. There he had an unfortunate incident with a young woman and, in retaliation, he assaulted her with his taiaha. This led to a confrontation with Ngāti Awa but, before fighting started, Te Rangihouhiri and his followers fled to Whakapaukorero, near to what is now Matatā.

During the land confiscations of 1866 Ngāti Awa lost this site, and in 1870 the Crown established an armed constabulary fort on the pa site.

More things to do

Venture off the beaten path and into the whimsical realm of Maggie's Funtastic Garden near Edgecumbe, where artist and sculptor Maggie Fenton has created two acres of themed gardens that will delight kids.

Fishing out of Whakatāne to White Island, down to Waihau Bay and the Ranfurly Bank, we offer all different styles of fishing targeting everything from trout to marlin.

55-foot sport fishing vessel offering overnight and extended fishing, diving and sightseeing charters to White Island, Ranfurly Banks and Three Kings Islands

Te Toka o Irakewa is one of three landmarks that Toroa was told to look for by his father Irakewa when the Mataatua canoe journeyed to Kakahoroa. 

The western end of Ōhope Beach - commonly just called West End - is the most popular part of the beach.

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