Kupe - First to Hokianga
Papa te whatitiri i runga nei
Ko ana kanapu he aitu,
Tū ka rire, Rongomai ka heke,
Tātara te wai puna o Raiātea.
— Mohi Tawhai, 1896
Voyaging such long distances required skill in canoe-building, navigation, and deep knowledge of the stars and sea. After a dramatic journey, Kupe saw the glowing hills of South Hokianga — Te Ramaroa — on the horizon. His waka Matawhaorua arrived safely, and he named the harbour Te Puna o te Ao Mārama – the spring of the world of light. Historian Pā Henare Tate believed Kupe arrived in Aotearoa around 950 AD.
"Goodbye, spring of the world of light. I now return — I will not pass this way again."
He then sent the taniwha back to guide Nukutawhiti. Nukutawhiti reshaped Kupe’s waka Matawhaorua into Ngātokimatawhaorua. With help from gods, waves, and taniwha, he made landfall in Hokianga. Waiting for him was Tīrairaka, who had stayed behind when Kupe left. The two taniwha became guardians of the Hokianga Harbour entrance, where they remain to this day.
Hokianga Whakapau Karakia – Hokianga of Inexhaustible Prayer.
Ko ana kanapu he aitu,
Tū ka rire, Rongomai ka heke,
Tātara te wai puna o Raiātea.
— Mohi Tawhai, 1896
The Homeland: Raiātea
Raiātea (Rangiātea) is a sacred island in Eastern Polynesia. It is part of the Society Islands, which include Tahiti. Once called Havai’i, Raiātea is a place of beginnings and returns. For generations, oral stories and whakapapa (genealogies) tell us that great journeys across the Pacific began here — to Hawai’i, Rapa Nui, and Aotearoa. Raiātea is often called the ancestral homeland of Polynesian peoples and is linked to the name Hawaiki. It was also known for building waka (canoes), and it was the home of Kupe — a master builder, navigator, and explorer.Kupe's Journey
On Raiātea, the chief Toto had two daughters: Kuramarotini and Rongorongo. They married Hoturapa and Turi — but Kuramarotini and Kupe shared a deeper bond. Together, they planned a great journey south in search of the giant fish of Māui-tikitiki-a-Tāranga.Voyaging such long distances required skill in canoe-building, navigation, and deep knowledge of the stars and sea. After a dramatic journey, Kupe saw the glowing hills of South Hokianga — Te Ramaroa — on the horizon. His waka Matawhaorua arrived safely, and he named the harbour Te Puna o te Ao Mārama – the spring of the world of light. Historian Pā Henare Tate believed Kupe arrived in Aotearoa around 950 AD.
Kupe’s Legacy
Kupe lived in Aotearoa for what’s thought to be two generations. Many places in Hokianga carry his name or were named by him. But Kupe knew he needed to return home to Raiātea, to prepare for those who would come after him — "te houhou rongo i Raiātea." Before leaving, he placed his son Tuputupu-whenua into a spring at Te Pouahi, on the great sand hills of Kahakaharoa. He left his son as a protector and spoke these parting words: “Hei konei rā e te puna o te ao mārama, ka hoki nei tēnei, e kore anō e hoki anga nui mai.”"Goodbye, spring of the world of light. I now return — I will not pass this way again."
Raiātea Voyagers After Kupe
After Kupe, other great travellers also set out from Raiātea — Nukutawhiti and Ruānui-o-Tāne. Kupe gave Ruānui directions and sent two taniwha (spiritual guardians), Ārai-te-Uru and Niniwa, to guide him. Ruānui used the star Atu-tahi (Canopus) to sail to Aotearoa and landed at Ripirō in Kaipara.He then sent the taniwha back to guide Nukutawhiti. Nukutawhiti reshaped Kupe’s waka Matawhaorua into Ngātokimatawhaorua. With help from gods, waves, and taniwha, he made landfall in Hokianga. Waiting for him was Tīrairaka, who had stayed behind when Kupe left. The two taniwha became guardians of the Hokianga Harbour entrance, where they remain to this day.
Hokianga Whakapau Karakia
Nukutawhiti and Ruānui settled on opposite sides of the Hokianga Harbour. To mark the opening of their homes, they each called upon great powers, Nukutawhiti summoned a whale with a powerful karakia (incantation). Ruānui responded with one of his own. The whale swam between them before returning to the sea. This moment is remembered in the name:Hokianga Whakapau Karakia – Hokianga of Inexhaustible Prayer.
Glossary of Key Terms
Aotearoa - New Zealand
Ao Mārama - The world of light / enlightenment
Hawaiki - The ancestral homeland in Polynesian tradition
Karakia - A prayer or chant, often spiritual or ceremonial
Raiātea / Rangiātea - A sacred island in Eastern Polynesia, linked to Māori ancestral origins
Tangihanga / Tangi - Funeral or mourning ceremony
Taniwha - A spiritual guardian or being, often associated with water or places
Tohunga moana - Oceanic expert or sea navigator
Waka - Canoe or vessel used for migration and travel
Whakapapa - Genealogy, family lineage, or ancestry
Whakaaro - Thought, idea, or principle
Whakapau karakia - A place of intense or powerful prayer