years) ago. Mahitahi is an old name for whitebait (inanga), which was once found in the river in abundance. The name refers to this resource. The river and its environs are a site of great significance for Rangitāne and oth er Kurahaupō iwi. The river and its associated wetlands at Whakatu were an important source of fish, eels and flax. The wetlands were a valuable source of eels and upokororo (grayling, or native trout) into the twentieth century. A body of water in the city now called the Queens Gardens, known by early European settlers as the ‘Eel Pond’, is the last remaining vestige of once extensive wetlands associated with the river. The river also formed a major route to the Nelson Lakes and Te Hoiere. A number of pā and kainga linked to the river were located in and around Whakatu, including Matangi Awhio. The tupuna Pohea (the great-great grandson of Turi, commander of the Aotea waka), left Whanganui and settled at Matangi Awhio around 1450, where he established a permanent village and erected a large pā on the hillside above the foreshore and beach, where waka could be easily and safely landed. Pohea‟s people also built racks for making and repairing fishing nets and for drying their catches. Matangi Awhio means ‘The Whirling Sea Breeze’. This name derives from the old saying ‘ka whakaurea ko kainga raro i te matangiawio i te Rangi’. Matangi Awhio soon grew into an important pā and kainga complex, known for cultivation of kumara, fishing and mahinga kai, flax and pakohe manufacture. There are a number of associated urupā. The expanded complex occupied land on and around the site of what is now Auckland Point School. According to Meihana Kereopa’s evidence given to the Native Land Court in 1892 (in connection with the Nelson Tenths claims), there were over 40 people dressing flax at Matangi Awhio when the New Zealand Company arrived at Whakatu. Kurahaupō people participated in payments made at Matangi Awhio by the New Zealand Company at the time of the Spain Commission (1843). With the arrival of New Zealand Company settlers after 1840 the site became a market area where local Māori sold produce to settlers, some of it produced at the Waimea gardens. Th ere were a number of other pā and sites associated with Rangitāne (and the other Kurahau pō iwi) connected to the river and its environs. Poiwhai was a temporary occup ation site for Mā ori visiting Whakatu to trade. It was located at the foot of what is today Russell Street, about 500 metres from Matang i Awhio. Pikimai pā was located on what is now Cathedral Hill, in the centre of Nelson close to the river. Te Puanwai was located at the foot of what is now known as Richardson Street. It was a kainga, fishing station, and tauranga waka. This kainga was watered by a spring-fed stream. It was a residence of the Ra ngitāne tupuna Meihana Kereopa, Hopa Te Rangihiroa, Koroneho Titi, and Hura Kopapa. A fishing station and kainga was also located on Manuka (Haulashore) Island, a short distance from the river mouth. Whangarae, on the Boulder Bank (Kohi te Wai) was another site and kainga. This was a residence of the renowned tupuna Tutepourangi. WAIRAU, OMAKA, AND Ō PAOA RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES The following Rangitāne pepeha identifies the Wairau River and associated waterways as being central to the mauri and identity of the iwi: Tapuae o Uenuku te maunga Wairau te awa Raukawakawa te moana Huataki te tangata Tini whetu ki te rangi ko Rangitāne nui ki te whenua . The Wairau River and its environs was (and is) central to the identity and mauri of Rangitāne in t he Wairau. Rangitāne have lived along the banks of the river since th e arrival in the district of their tupuna Te Huataki. The area around the mouth of the river (the Wairau Lagoons) formed a particularly important occupation and mahinga kai area. The river in its entirety was a crucial source of mahinga kai and high quality flax, and Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 48 of 163