This pā was located on a steep headland jutting out into Queen Charlotte Sound between Waikawa and Whatamango Bay. Meretoto (Ships Cove) was among the first places settle d by Rangitāne tupuna after their arrival in Te Tau Ihu, and they spread out from here to occupy the land and coasts with which they are now associated. Punaruawhiti (E ndeavour Inlet) was named for the freshwater springs in the bay. It was the site of m any pā, kainga and cultivation areas, and was highly valued for its rich kaimoana reso urces. Meretoto was an important source of kaimoana and a manufacturing centr e, where stone (including pakohe) was worked prior to shipment to other parts of T North Island. To the e Tau Ihu and the north of Meretoto is Te Anaho. This was a major Rangitāne occupation site and fishin g station. A pā on an easily-defended rocky outcrop on the southe rn end of Motuara Island formed a place of refuge for eight island kainga. The isla nd had many turanga waka, and was an ideal base for collect ing kaimoana. The Brothers Islands are a deeply tapu place known to Rangitāne as Nga Whatu-kai- pon u – the Eyes that Stand as Witness to the Deeds of Kupe. They are the eyes of the Wh eke Muturangi, cast into the sea by Kupe after he had killed the octopus. The tapu ass ociated with these islands required travell ers to recite karakia when crossing Ra ukawa Moana (Cook Strait) and only the d escendants of Kupe, persons of great mana or tohunga could gaze upon them. Anamāhanga was one of the two tentacles of the great wheke Muturangi, killed by the tupuna Kupe. The other is Anatohia (East Bay). Te Anamāhanga is a landing place of Kupe's waka Te Matahouru a and indentations made by his footprints are visible at the tauranga wak a at Te Op e-a- Kupe. This place is central to the identity of Rangitāne in Te Tau Ihu. Anamāhanga was a turanga waka where many important Rangitāne tupuna first came ashore in Te Tau Ihu, including Te Huataki and later Te Whakamana and Tukauae. Anamāhanga was an important fishing area, providing access to koura, paua, karengo and kokapoko. Te Hoiere (including Mahau Sound, Kenepuru Sound, Hikapu Reach and Pelorus Sound) contained a large number of important pā, kainga and fishing stations. Hikapu, located at the strategically important junction of the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds, was one of the largest and most important occupation complexes in the region. It is often described as the 'headquarter s' of Rangitāne and other Kurahaupo iwi in the Te Ho iere / Kenepuru area. The Hikapu settlement was protected by one fighting pā at Pinohia, on the hill at the junction of t he Pelorus and Kenepuru sounds, and another situated opposite the hea dland b etween the Kenepuru a nd Mahau Sounds. This area provided access to the pā Oraka awhea in the Kaituna, Waikakaho and Wairau. Statement Of Association With Pakohe Rangitāne o Wairau are a tangata whenua iwi of the Marlborough region, and represent the interests of the South Island section of the wider Rangitāne iwi. They have had a long-standing cultural and historic association with the Wairau since their arrival several centuries ago. The Wairau is a term for the myriad of rivers and creeks whose catchments provided acces s to the regional pakohe resource in the Waimeha, Whangamoa and Motueka vall eys. Rangitāne o Wairau are descended through intermarriage from the earliest Po lynesian settlers to the region (described as Moa Hunters) and are recognised as ka itiaki of the ancestral places where these original settlers landed and established ka inga at the Wairau River mouth to exploit the natural resources of the region. Wi thin a very short time these ancestors of Rangitāne had established a significant manufacturing and distribution of stone tools (adzes, knives, chisels and personal ornament s) utising argellite and serpentine from the Nelson and Durville Island ultrama fec mineral belt. This rock was known to Rangitāne as pakohe. Durville Island was known as Rangitoto ki te Tonga and believed by Rangi tāne o Wairau to be a name associated with the separation of the primal parents (Ranginui and Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 52 of 163