History
Our Pepeha
Ko Maungarei te maunga
Ko Tamaki te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Hōturoa te rangatira
Ko Otāhuhu te kainga nōho
Ko Panama Road School te kura
OUR History
There are three main iwi in our area
- Ngati Paoa
- Ngati Te Ata
- Ngai-Ta-Ki-Tamaki
The Entire district of the western side was formerly known by Maori as Tauomā from Mt-Richmond (Otāhuhu) to Flat Rock Reserve and surroundings - McLennan hills (Te-Apunga-o-Tainui)
Panmure basin was named by the Maori people as Te Kopua Kai a Hiku (‘the eating place of the guardian taniwha Moko-ika-hiku-waru’) as they believe a taniwha (a water monster) guards these waters. Over time, this title was shortened to Waimokoia.
The Puriri trees grew abundantly in this area.
OUR Legends
Maungarei - The Watchful Mountain
Two sisters named 'Reitu' and 'Reipae' fell in love with a chief from Waikato who was called 'Ue-one-one'. He thought it would be good for him and his people if he married both of the sisters. So he sent his eagle to pick the wahine up.
However Reipae had second thoughts and asked the bird to land. While they were there Reipae saw a hansom chief and fell in love with him, his name was 'Tahu-hupotiki'. He later named the rohe (area) after her and called it Whangarei.
Reitu went on to marry Chief Ue-one-one and he named the maunga 'Maungarei' in reference to her name.
This significance of the sisters story was they tied two iwi 'Nga-Puhi-Nui-Tonu' (far north) and 'Tainui' (Waikato) together having Maungarei the centre of the connection.
