Some of the Uri of Pūkenga married into Te Arawa and have occupied land in Te Arawa since migrating from Opotiki in the 17th century. Ngāti Pūkenga are one of the Ahi Kaa Iwi in the general Maketū area in our own right.

Ngāti Pūkenga at Maketū collectively use Te Awhe Marae along with Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Makino, Te Patuwai and Ngāti Pikiao. Our dead are burried at Maketū, our people still reside in Maketū as Pūkenga today.

At a Native Land Court sitting at Maketū on the 28th of February 1883. Whereas the court entered Ngāti Pūkenga people as registered owners of the said block. There were 28 original owners. The block was then surveyed and divided into 5 portions of approximately 65 hectares each.

The neighboring consist of Ohineahuru to the north, Waipumuka, Ngahimutu and Te Rau O Te Huia to the west, Kaikokopu and Pongakawa rivers to the east, and Paengaroa to the South. Some of the descendants of these original owners are still living on the land to this day. There is also another block called Ki Te Raki in Paengaroa. In which Ngāti Pūkenga also have interests in.

Saw the Te Arawa people vacate Maketū and journey to Rotorua where they expected a planned attack from Te Waharoa. On Te Waharoa’s arrival in Tauranga, he instead decided to attack the Pa in Maketū. On the 29th of March 1836, the invasion began. Ngāti Pūkenga chiefs Te Nainai, Te Irohanga and about 50 warriors, plus a few of Te Arawa that stayed behind, were left to face the wrath of Te Waharoa and his comrades in arms of at least 1200 men.

Ngāti Pūkenga were aware of the impending rage of Te Waharoa, as in earlier skirmishes, in alliance with Ngāti Maru, they caused the demise of a prominent chief, Te Wakaete, an acquaintance of Te Waharoa. Ngāti Pūkenga were found utterly wanting in that quality of caution, which was characteristic of these men, who met their ultimate fate defending Maketū.

Overlooking Little Waihi from one of Maketū’s ancient pā sites, known as Owhara.

The escarpment is Ohineahuru, beyond which is the Waewaetutuki north western land boundary.

Tokaparore looking towards Okurei

The far reaches of the Waihi Estuary is the Northern boundary of the Waewaetutuki land block. Bounded on the East by the Kaikokopu river and extends south to Paengaroa. As a result of there manaakitanga shown whilst helping to defend Maketū in the 1800’s, Ngāti Pūkenga ki Maketū was gifted the Waewaetutuki Land block as part of the “Paengaroa Settlement”.