Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua

Incorporated Society

²Te Awa o Manawatū   ²Te Aohuruhuru   ²Okatia

Okatia

In ancient times amidst the slopes of Puketoi, there grew a huge Tōtara tree.  This was indeed no ordinary tree.  This Tōtara was far taller than all other trees of the forest.  But far more than this, this tree was the dwelling place of an Atua whose name was Okatia.

One day there began a rumble from within this tree.  The head of the tree began to whirl around and around.  The Atua Okatia grew increasingly restless with his desire to journey to the sea.

The branches of this huge tree began to wave about; and finally the huge Tōtara crashed to the ground.  The roots were wrenched from the ground and the Tōtara began its journey, sliding down the side of the hill.  All that lay in its path, bracken fern, trees, hillocks and boulders were swept to the side as it moved downward.  When the tree arrived down at the lower levels, the land shook and quivered.  The huge tree forged along, gouging a channel as it went.

As the tree rumbled along, the channel in its wake began to fill with water.  This was the beginning of the water flow which was fittingly to be known as Tiraumea.

Well, the Tōtara soon arrived and confronted the Ruahine range.  However, this obstacle did nothing to deter Okatia.  The huge tree began to pound at the mountain range.  Trees became severed; earth was flung into the skies, and the rocks, until a crevice appeared.

Then the Tōtara began to burrow vigorously into the mountain range with a rushing torrent of water raging behind it.

This was indeed how the Manawatū River was formed.  When the tree finally emerged from the mountains, a wide expanse lay before him.

Its endeavors became increasingly difficult, and soon with energies drained, the tree came to rest.

Being now tossed about by the water, the sheer strength of the water current formed a huge entrance into the sea.

This was the pathway taken by Okatia from the mountains to the sea.

To some he came to rest at the place called Okatia.  To others, he may have come to rest on the beach to the south of the river, or swept out to sea never to be seen or heard of again.