Waimana

Waimana is a rural valley in the Whakatane District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in the northern Urewera. Waimana River, originally known as Tauranga River, runs through the valley, joining the Ohinemataroa River one kilometre south-west of the Tāneatua.[1]

Waimana
Rural community
Waimana
Coordinates: 38.225894°S 176.840346°E / -38.225894; 176.840346
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityWhakatāne District

History and culture

European settlement

The Waimana settlement is based around a wide, straight main road, dating back to its heyday before motor vehicles were introduced and goods roads were opened to other towns.[2]

The Waimana-Nukuhou North Memorial Hall was opened on the main road in 1953. A plaque above the fireplace in the hall lists two local men who died in World War I and 17 local men in World War II. A display board near the fireplace names the 12 local men who served in World War I, the 74 local men in served in World War II, and the 36 ex-servicemen who moved to the district after 1945.

A framed bronze plaque was erected at the entrance to the hall in 1964, commemorating "the original pioneers of the Waimana settlement from 2nd Sept 1907 to 28th Sept 1909” with a list of 27 names.[3]

The Waimana Gorge Road was partially closed in early July 2019 after part of the road was blocked by a slip.[4] It was completely closed in early August due to heavy rain.[5] The slip was cleared and the road was fully reopened later that month.[6]

Marae

The valley is the rohe (tribal area) of the Tuhoe people. It has several marae:[7]

  • Piripari Marae and Tamaikaimoana meeting house, affiliated with Tamakaimoana and Ngāi Tātua, established in 1962
  • Pouahinau Marae and Tūranga Pikitoi meeting house, affiliated with Tūranga Pikitoi, established in 1933
  • Rāhiri Marae and Rāhiri ō te Rangi meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Rere, established between 1875 and 1880
  • Raroa Marae and Te Poho ō Tānemoeahi meeting house, affiliated with Ko Tamaruarangi, established in 1925
  • Tanatana Marae and Te Poho ō Tuhoe meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Rere, established in 1919
  • Tataiāhape Marae and Takutai ō Terangi meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Raka, established in 1906
  • Tauanui Marae and Te Poho ō Tamatea meeting house, affiliated with Whakatāne Hapū, established in 1933
  • Tāwhana Marae and Ngā Tau E Maha meeting house, affiliated with Ngā Maihi, established in 1935

Education

Waimana School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students in the main Waimama settlement,[8] with a roll of 25 as of March 2020.[9]

Nukuhou North School, another co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, is located north-east of the settlement,[10] with a roll of 82.[11]

References
  1. McGarvey, Rangi (1 March 2017). "The Waimana Valley". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. McKinnon, Murray (1 July 2015). "Main road, Waimana". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  3. Ringer, Bruce. "Waimana-Nukuhou North memorial hall". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  4. "Waimana Gorge to remain closed after slip". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz. 7 July 2019.
  5. "Waimana Gorge closed due to heavy rain". Sun Media. sunlive.co.nz. 9 August 2019.
  6. "Waimana Gorge to open 24/7 today". New Zealand Government. New Zealand Transport Agency. 21 August 2019.
  7. "Waimana Marae". ngaituhoe.iwi.nz. Tuhoe.
  8. "Waimana School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  9. "Waimana School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  10. "Nukuhou North School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  11. "Nukuhou North School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

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