Opotaka Historic Reserve

Historic kāinga

From the historic kāinga of Opotaka you look directly out across Lake Rotoaira to Motuopuhi Island, where Ngāti Toa rangatira Te Rauparaha took refuge from his pursuers by hiding in an underground kumara pit.

The experience of emerging from doubt and darkness into the light of day sparked his composition of the iconic haka ‘Ka Mate’, which is performed by the All Blacks. 

A significant site for Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Ngāti Hikairo that was probably occupied from the 1820s onwards.

Opotaka still bears traces of storage pits and whare sites, with other archaeological remains below ground.

There are interpretative panels on site telling the story of this strategic spot.