Many years ago Takahiwai, situated about three miles up the Whangarei Harbour from Marsden Point, was a thickly populated Maori settlement. How this place and the tribe there was named makes a most unusual story.
At the time in question, the chief of the tribe was the noble Whakariki whose wisdom and prowess as a warrior had resulted in his living to a venerable old age. His successor on the other hand, was still a baby. This situation created its own problems for in times of danger the little chieftain had to be protected at all costs.When fighting broke out between the Parawhau tribes at Whangarei and those at Takahiwai, Whakariki's first thought was for the safety of the baby chieftain, and he made a quick decision.
He asked that the little boy be brought to him. He gazed at the baby and raised his hand as if in blessing and said, \"Farewell, little chief, if I should die, you are my successor. May the gods protect you.\"
Away in the distance the Parawhau warriors were approaching so he ordered seven of his most trusted men to take the little boy to the Kaipara and put him under the care of the Ngatiwhatua. The warriors, taking turns to carry the baby, set off at a smart pace.
Then the brave old Whakariki and his followers stood their ground in an endeavour to halt the attackers. They took their stand behind some flax bushes, which were very plentiful in that area.With his mere held firmly in his hand Whakariki stood up with chiefly dignity and authority and said, \"Fight, my warriors, fight to the last man. I am old and may die but do not slacken your efforts. Fight on, fight on. On no account must the Parawhau be allowed to capture my successor.\"
Unfortunately, Whakariki's taua was greatly outnumbered and although they fought desperately and bravely, many of them were killed. The aim of all attacking parties was to capture or kill the chief but no chief would dream of allowing himself to be taken alive, which to him would be worse than a hundred deaths, for it would strip him of his mana, his most prized possession.
Whakariki fought valiantly but eventually force of numbers prevailed and he was cut down by a blow from an enemy's mere. With a last cry of rage he died and fell among the flax bushes. From that time onwards, his tribe took the name of Patuharakeke, which means falling dead among the flax.�
Fired with their success in killing the great Whakariki, the Parawhau now turned their attention to his young successor. They chose a small taua of their fittest and most fleet of foot men to be a vanguard of their main party. It would indeed be a great triumph if they could also capture the young chieftain.Meantime, Whakariki's seven warriors struggled over difficult ground up and down hills, throughbush and fern, with their precious charge. Before long they realised that their enemies were gaining on them slowly but relentlessly.
Away in the distance across the valley, they could see the Parawhau pursuers approaching withgreat speed. Desperately they extended themselves to the utmost but it was soon clear that they all would be captured or killed in a very short time.One of the seven was a trusted tohunga who sternly reminded his companions that no matterhow their love for the little chief twisted their hearts, or how fast their tears flowed, they must obey Maori law.
They all knew that it was a very strict Maori custom that a chief must never be made captive. His mana was such that a honourable death was deemed preferable to capture by the enemy, and was the only way to preserve the prestige of himself and his tribe. But their chief was a baby, and so his warriors must act for him.Aue! Aue!\" they cried over and over again. \"That we must destroy this beautiful child Tu, the god of war decrees that we must do this dastardly thing. Aue Aue Aue\". So, with grieving hearts Whakariki's seven warriors did what they knew they must do - kill their beloved little chief before the quickly advancing taua reached them.
Not far ahead was a creek, and here they paused and looked back. Yes, the enemy was crashing through the flax over the swampy ground towards them and would be upon them in a matter of minutes.The tohunga took the little boy in his arms and said, \"Farewell, little chief. Alas, the gods have deserted us. It wrings our hearts to do this deed. Forgive us, we have no other honourable choice, farewell\".
The warriors then held their baby chieftain under the water that went weeping to the sea and trampled him with their feet until he drowned. Since that day, the place has been known as Takahiwai, which means 'trampled waters'.
Referenced from Florence Keene's Tai Tokerau, Northland Room, Whangarei Library