Oueroa - the Significance

The following is the full version pertaining to Oueroa from the letter from Pat Parsons, quoted from on the previous page

Napier
22nd September 2013
 
'...I regard Oueroa pa as one of the cradles of civilisation of the Ahuriri/Heretaunga region. In the sequence of significant pa sites it ranks No 5.
 
1. Heipipi - the principal pa site of Ngati Whatumamoa on the hill above Bay View
 
2. Otatara - the principal pa site of Ngati Awa above the EIT at Taradale
 
3. Tuhirangi - the pa site above Moteo where Turauwha retreated after abandoning Otatara.
 
4. Mataotao - where Rangituehu married Turauwha's daughter and birth place of Hineiao, Tuaka and Kehu.
 
5. Oueroa. - where Hineiao married Taraia I's son Rangitaumaha and the children of the new aristocracy were born. At least three of these children could be described as children of destiny.
 
Te Huhuti, the first-born married Whatuiapiti and was the mother of Hikawera II who returned to take up his mother's inheritance and is the ancestor of the people of Waiohiki.
 
Taraia II is the ancestor of the people of Omahu marae. Ngati Hinemanu, Ngati Honomokai, Ngai Te Upokoiri and Ngati Mahuika all descend from him.
 
Hikateko is the ancestor of the people of Moteo marae and Wharerangi marae. The hapu names Ngati Hinepare, Ngati Mahu and Ngai Tawhao stem from Hikateko. All these peoples originated at Oueroa.
 
I hope this communicates something of the significance of Oueroa and an aristocracy which survives to this day. Best wishes, Pat Parsons.