Whakatane

Whakatane (IPA /ɸaka'ta:ne/, also pronounced /fɔkə'ta:ni/; /wɔkə'ta:ni/ or /ʍɔkə'ta:ni/) is a city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand, the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 98 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River. The town has a population of 18,000, with another 15,000 people living within the greater Whakatane district. Of the 33,000 people in the district, around 40% have Māori ancestry. Whakatane was among the towns worst hit by the 1987 Edgecumbe Earthquake.

History

Settlement

The site of the town has long been populated. Māori pā sites in the area date back to the first Polynesian settlements, estimated to have been around 1200 CE. According to Māori tradition Toi te Huatahi, later known as Toi Kairakau, landed at Whakatane, about AD 1150, in search of his grandson, Whatonga. Failing to find Whatonga, he decided to settle in the locality and built a pa on the highest point of the headland now called Whakatane Heads, overlooking the present town. Some 200 years later the Mataatua waka landed at Whakatane.^[1]

The name "Whakatane" commemorates an incident occurring after the arrival of the Mataatua. The men had gone ashore and the canoe began to drift. Wairaka, a chieftainess, said “Ka Whakatāne au i ahau” (“I will make myself a man”), and commenced to paddle (which women were not allowed to do), and with the help of the other women saved the canoe.^[2]

The region around Whakatane was important during the New Zealand Wars of the mid 19th century, particularly the Volkner Incident. Its role culminated in 1869 with raids by Te Kooti's forces. Whakatane beach heralded an historic meeting on the 23 March 1908 between Prime Minister Joseph Ward and the controversial Māori prophet and activist Rua Kenana Hepetipa. Kenana claimed to be Te Kooti's successor.

Whale Island (or Motuhora) is a small island off the Bay of Plenty coast about 12 kilometres north of Whakatane. The island has numerous sites of pā (Māori fortified villages). It also provided shelter for Cook's Endeavour in 1769. A whaling station existed on the island during the 19th century.

Mataatua Declaration in 1993

The 'First International Conference on the Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples' was held in Whakatane from June 12 to 18, 1993. This resulted in the Mataatua Declaration on Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples', commonly referred to as the Mataatua Declaration.

Flooding in 2004

Heavy rain struck the Bay of Plenty and Whakatane on 16-18 July 2004 causing severe flooding and resulting in a state of civil emergency being declared. Many homes and properties were flooded, forcing thousands of Whakatane residents to evacuate. The Rangitaiki River burst its banks, flooding large areas of farmland, and numerous roads were closed by floods and slips. A total of 245.8 mm of rain fell in Whakatane in the 48-hour period and many small earthquakes were also felt during this time, loosening the sodden earth and resulting in landslips that claimed two lives. These were the first earthquake deaths in New Zealand for nearly 40 years.

Industries and tourism

Whakatane Harbour at sunset

The town's main industries are diverse: forestry, dairy farming, fishing, tourism and manufacturing are all well-established. There is a paper mill and a newspaper press. Whakatane is the gateway to White Island (Whakaari), New Zealand's most active volcano, located 48 kilometres north of Whakatane and a popular destination for day cruises. Other activities include a swim with the dolphins.

Infrastructure

The mouth of the Whakatane River and Ohiwa Harbour have both provided berths for yachts, fishing trawlers and small ships since European settlement of the area. More recently, the construction of an airport on the western side of the river has provided the region with access to commercial air transport which dramatically reduced passenger transport times to and from the major international airports at Auckland and Wellington. A branch railway line (Whakatane Industrial railway) connects the Whakatane Board Mills to the Taneatua branch line, which in turn is connected to the East Coast Main Trunk Railway. The Whakatane Industrial Railway is currently mothballed, but has never had a passenger rail service. Private cars and some limited bus services and taxis (as well as cycling and walking) are the primary modes of transport for residents.

The city also has access to modern telecommunications infrastructure including high speed internet access.

Sister cities

• Kamagaya, Chiba, Japan

External links

• Whakatane District Council

• Whakatane Information

References

1. ^ McLintock, A. H. (1966). An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand (HTML). Retrieved on 24/08/2006.
2. ^ The legend of Wairaka and the naming of Whakatane. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.

Coordinates: 37°59′S, 177°00′E

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