Opape

Opape is a small coastal settlement in the Ōpōtiki District of the Bay of Plenty Region on New Zealand's North Island. It is 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Omarumutu

Opape is the eastern end of the traditional territory of the Whakatōhea Māori iwi.^[1] When most of Whakatōhea's land was confiscated by the Crown in the 1860s, most of the iwi was crowded into the 20,300-acre Ōpape Native Reserve,^[2][3] which included coastal Opape and inland hills.^[4]

Marae

Opape Marae and Muriwai meeting house is a traditional meeting place of the Whakatōhea hapū of Ngāi Tamahaua (Ngāi Tama).^[1][5] In October 2020, the Government committed $744,574 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and two other Whakatōhea marae, creating 30 jobs.^[6]

References

1. "Opape". Māori Maps. Te Potiki National Trust. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
2. Walker, Ranginui (1 March 2017). "Te Whakatōhea – From European contact to today". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
3. "The Ōpape Native Reserve". Whakatōhea and Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and the Crown Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims (PDF). pp. 35–37. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
4. McLellan, John (2020). Raupatu and Compensation in the North-Eastern Bay of Plenty 1865-1874 (PDF). p. 96. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
5. "Whakatōhea". Te Kāhui Māngai (Directory of Iwi and Māori Organisations). Te Puni Kōkiri.
6. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.

37.976°S 177.423°E / -37.976; 177.423