Whirinaki is a locality on the Whirinaki River in the south Hokianga, in Northland, New Zealand. The name means "to lean against a support".[1] Highway 12 runs through it. Opononi lies to the south west, and Rawene lies to the north east.[2][3]

Whirinaki
Whirinaki is located in Northland Region
Whirinaki
Whirinaki
Coordinates: 35°28′26″S 173°27′45″E / 35.47389°S 173.46250°E / -35.47389; 173.46250
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictFar North District
Population
 (c.2005)
 • Total200

It is part of the Hokianga South statistical area, which covers the southern side of Hokianga Harbour between Rawene and Koutu. For demographics of this area, see Rawene.

History and culture

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Whirinaki was raided by Te Roroa in 1810 or 1811, during the Musket Wars. All the inhabitants of Opara village were killed.[4]

The area has three marae associated with Ngāpuhi hapū:[5]

Education

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Whirinaki Native School, sometime between 1900 and 1936

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tonga o Hokianga is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school[7] which has a roll of 147. It is a Kura Kaupapa Māori school which teaches fully in the Māori language.

There was a Whirinaki Native School during the early-mid 20th century.[8]

35°28′26″S 173°27′45″E / 35.47389°S 173.46250°E / -35.47389; 173.46250

Notes

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  1. ^ "Ngā Puhi - Ancestors". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  2. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 6. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  3. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 22. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  4. ^ Smith, Stephenson Percy (1910). "Further Wars on the Border-Land". Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century. p. 52.
  5. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  6. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  7. ^ Education Counts: Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Tonga o Hokianga
  8. ^ Lange, Raeburn (1999). May the People Live: a history of Maori health development, 1900-1920. Auckland University Press. p. 76. ISBN 1869402146.