Ōwairaka Pūrākau

Ōwairaka, which means ‘Place of Wairaka’, was the daughter of Toroa, Commander of the great voyaging waka of Mātaatua from Rarotonga. The whanau sailed down the East Coast to Whakatane.  Upon arrival, the men anchored the waka and went ashore to set up the camp, leaving Wairaka and the rest of the women and children to wait on board. 

During this time, the waka came loose from the anchor stone and started drifting out to sea. Recognising they were in danger, Wairaka defied the tapu that forbade women to handle a canoe, took hold of Toroa’s paddle and brought everyone back to safety, calling: “Kia Whakatane au i ahau’ – I will act the part of a man”. This cry is the origin of the town's name. Her bravery is commemorated in a bronze statue, which stands on a rock at the Whakatane Heads. 

Wairaka's whanau were later drawn to the maunga that is now Mt Albert. The maunga was still unoccupied when she arrived in around 1250 AD, so Wairaka climbed to the summit and lit her fires thus creating Te Pā of te Wairaka – the home of Wairaka. From that time onwards the name has been held because of the mana, the authority and physical and spiritual influence that she had. Wairaka became the mountain; the mountain became her.  

Our school of Mount Albert Grammar takes the Māori name, ‘Te Puna o Wairaka’ which means Wairaka’s spring. Apparently, on campus at Unitec there is a sacred body of water that sprung up from the ground after Wairaka stood on it. We have used this as a double meaning for a pool of knowledge that has formed in her footsteps.