import\articles\98\Once were whales.html indexed_doc HTMLPlugin 1496 Once were whales.html Once were whales.html en iso_8859_1 Once were whales HTML http://articles/98/Once were whales.html http://articles/98/Once were whales.html -35.811688 35W 81 811 8116 -35.811688 174.410705 174E 41 410 4107 174.410705 HASH017b07f43ab9123ad8c74b6b 1360633627 20130212 1360874493 20130215 HASH017b.dir <h2>Once were whales</h2><p>One popular traditional name for Whangarei Harbour is Whangarei-te-rerenga-paraoa,the gathering place of whales.  This name was given by Ngati Wai because whales gathered in the harbour to feed over summer and the tradition is depicted in beautiful artwork within the whare nui at the marae in Porowini Ave, Whangarei.  Another name for the harbour is Whangarei-o-te-tohora, meaning &quot;waiting for the breastbone of the whale.&quot;   One tradition refers to an incident where a young tohunga attempted to trick an older into revealing his highest knowledge.  The master tohunga replied saying, &quot;E whanga nei i te rei o te tohora?&quot; - are you waiting (whanga) for the opportunity to extract the breastbone (rei) of the whale? (tohora).</p><p>Another story relates to the words whanga (to wait) and rei (to ambush).  In this story Whangarei is a rock opposite Marsden Point (Castle Rock), where sentries kept watch over the harbour.  This version of the name means to lie in wait.</p><p>Two other versions of the name are Te Whanga-o-Reitu or Te Whanga-o-Reipae.  These names refer to the meaning of whanga as harbour and in this case, of Reitu or Reipae.  The latter were sisters who flew from Waikato in the form of two birds.  Reipae stayed at the Kaipara while Reitu flew on and was seduced by Manaia, now immortalised as Mt Manaia above the harbour's northern entrance. </p><p> </p>