Gisborne to Pouawa Marine Reserve

Tūranga ki Te Tapuwae o Rongokako

Gisborne District Council's Draft Makorori Masterplan includes some historical information generously given by the hapū of Makorori. Gisborne District Council Draft Makorori Masterplan

Over time, Makorori and the reefs including Te Toka Ahuru (Aerial Reef) became the fishing grounds of all hapū landward and seaward, including Rakaiatane, Hinehaeretaua, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, and Ngāti Konohi.

Hapū elders often spoke of the hapū fishing fleet that went to sea from Makorori from August to October to fish Tangaroa's children on Te Toka Ahuru. Following the Ruatepupuke tradition, 40 waka would travel out, 38 were for whānau of hapū and two were for those who rested while the fleet was fishing night and day. Upon their return, the fleet would rest, using the maka-o-riri aloe vera plant on their sunburn, and preparing their catches of fish by hangi smoke pits to travel west inland and north to Pouawa and Whāngārā, At the northern Makorori beach, hangi pits exposed on building sites have been identified and protected as the historical reference of this fishing practice.

The Draft Makorori Masterplan proposes naming four significant sites along Makorori Beach – 

Pānehu, an historic pā site of Hinehaeretaua, 

Hinehaeretaua, the tipuna who built and maintained pā along the beach and facilitated peace among the many whānau, hapū and iwi who visited Makorori,

Waiwhakata, named after the pā which once sat on the steep hill slopes above Makorori, and

Pukaingakakaho, named after the pā which sits atop Tatapouri point.