On a cool, wet and windy Saturday a dozen members of the Whakatane and District Historical Society visited the Tawhitinui (Tawhitirahi ) Pa site area near Opotiki.

After spending a most profitable time hearing about many aspects of the history of this area, and of course having lunch in the warm and dry lounge, we went out to have a great look over the area.

We learnt about the coastal steamer Huntress that foundered at the entrance to the harbour in September 1865. It was pushed over to one side of the creek and then another wave pushed to the other side.

We looked over the Pa site to observe the remnants of trench formations and then our eyes turned north out to the sand dune region, Akeake (Pakahi) and then further inland to what was once a massive swamp area – the Kukumoa Swamp and the Karaka (Kukumoa) Stream.

Before reclamation and flood gate formations this area would have been a most significant food source.