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Story: Muriwhenua tribes

Whāngāpē Harbour

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Whāngāpē Harbour

A tribe known as Ngāti Ruānui lived on Whāngāpē Harbour. One night, when under siege, they escaped from their at Pawarenga across the harbour by burning their possessions and creating smoke. From then on they were known as Te Aupōuri – from au (current) and pōuri (smoke).

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Muriwhenua tribes – Te Aupōuri and Te Rarawa, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/429/whangape-harbour (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009, updated 22 March 2017.