Having now been connected to Mataatua and Te Manuka Tutahi in the heart of Whakatane will you be guided by us, on a walking journey, to explore some of the nearby sites of the ancestors of the local people from the tribe of Ngati Awa. The Ngati Awa people descend from the ancestor Toi and his wife Te Kura-i-Monoa.  It is said Toi used the constellations to navigate across the Pacific Ocean, he likened the celestial bodies to the star gate as he was a time traveller, travelling from island to island to reconnect back to his descendants.  When his wife was giving birth to their son, he said to her I name our child after the star gate, the stars I used as a navigational compass which guided me to Aotearoa.  And so the son was named Awanuiarangi, meaning people of the stars. 

The sites of significance you will visit are the footsteps of our ancestor Toi and his son Awanuiarangi.  He established the tribal boundaries commencing from Ohiwa to Waihi which encompasses the tribal mountain Putauaki.  Putauaki, which stands in Kawerau, looks across to the ocean of Toi and the ancestral meeting house Mataatua.  Your journey takes you to the foundation landmarks of the area, connecting you spiritually and physically to the Footsteps of our Ancestors.

Your journey commences at Te Manuka Tutahi, the resting place of the life force of the Mataatua canoe.

• From here you walk in the footsteps of Muriwai to the pa site known as Tikotiko above the cliff face named by Toi when he imparted his knowledge to his son Awanuiarangi. 


• The next part of your journey is in the footsteps of Awanuiarangi and takes you to the school of learning known as Tupapakurau.


• Our journey continues in the footsteps of Irakewa to Te Wairere, meaning sacred waters cascading from a cliff. 


• Our journey then returns to the footsteps of the ancestor Toroa, to Te Manuka Tutahi to the house Mataatua where Tupapakurau originally stood. 


• We then turn to the footsteps of our ancestors Toroa and Puhi, to their famous garden Matirerau. 


• From here I can hear the ocean calling me to now walk in the footsteps of Maui, the navigator, the shape shifter, the explorer, the magician, the orator, the keeper of knowledge, the legend.   
• My heart is called to acknowledge those distinguished dead who call to me from beyond and I now turn to the footsteps of Hinenuitepo and Wairaka. 


• My hand stretches out and grasps the vine of Tawhaki called Te Aka Matua. 


• I now travel in the footsteps of Irakewa, the eponymous ancestor of the Mataatua people. 


• From here I am able to clutch the hoe of Waimihia, the paddle of my ancestor Toroa and journey upon the ocean of Kiwa to the island of Mauke. 


• Finally I look younger to the apex of Kapu Te Rangi in the footsteps of the ancestor Toi te Huatahi (Toi the only child), Toi Kairakau (Toi the vegetarian), Toi Putaihunui (Toi of the fine features), Toi Ngai Te Hurumanu (Toi the son of Ngai Te Hurumanu). 

The experience concludes back at Mataatua where you will join the home people in the dining hall for light refreshment comprised of locally made and sourced cuisine.