Noa – NZShortWalks

Walk 55, 6th Dec 2020

Lake Hakanoa is in the Waikato town of Huntly. Before 1879 Huntly was called ‘Rahui Pokeka.’

During the 1850s the area was occupied by the Ngati Mahuta and Ngati Whawhakia tribes who lived peacefully until the lake got overfished. To put and end to the quarelling and to conserve the fish, the paramount chief Potatou Te Whero Whero imposed a ban on fishing, called a ‘rahui.’

Rahui

A rahui is a period of prohibition over an area by marking a Pu rahui – a carved stick with notches which was driven into the ground. A flax cloak called a ‘pokeka‘ marked where the stick was. At the time of each new moon the tohunga (priest) would change the Pu rahui one more notch until it was below ground level. That was the sign to the people that they were allowed to fish again.

While the rahui was in effect the lake was tapu, forbidden. Lake Hakanoa was named after the haka that was performed when the rahui was over and they could fish again. The ceremony to lift the tapu was called ‘Noa.’

The lake walkway is split into thirteen zones including a native tree reserve, Japanese Garden, Global Garden, Wildlife Gardens, Palm Beach, Contemporary Maori Garden, Green Cathedral, Ponga Grove, wetlands and more. It’s a nice, easy flat walk and you get a good view of the Huntly power station from the lake.

The walkway had the most one-note Tuis I’ve ever heard. You’ll hear them on the video.