PUKETOI MAUNGA

Puketoi maunga is associated most closely with people in the northern parts of the Wairarapa.

At one time a great totara tree grew in the Puketoi Ranges (meaning fast moving hill), it was possessed by a supernatural being called Okatia. One day Okatia decided to move and so started to travel north-west in the totara. Eventually the tree came to a massive barrier in the form of a huge mountain range. The mountains blocked his path so Okatia forced his way through splitting the range and creating the gorge. The Tararua and Ruahine mountain ranges became separated at this time. In memory of the event Te Aurere a Tonga (the flowing current of the South) or Te Au nui a Tonga (the great south current) is used to describe the river.

In the middle of the gorge lies a large red rock. The Rangitane people of the west coast call it Te Ahu Aturanga while those of the east say it is Potaehinetewhaiwha. Regardless of what name we call it; it is considered a very tapu rock. Anyone travelling along the river by canoe always said karakia when they passed this, the guardian of the Manawatu Gorge. It is said that even in the worst floods Te Ahu Aturanga remains uncovered by water.