Hatupatus Wishing Rock

It just happens that State Highway One passes ancient Hatupatu's rock, a stone with long striations, a strange symmetrical indentation, and a myth pre-dating Pakeha.

Te Kohatu (the rock) was the savior of Hatupatu, one of the original warriors from the Arawa Waka, when he was being chased by a Tipua. A Tipua was similar to a Taniwha in that it was a supernatural being, and this one was named Kurangaituku, and came in the form of a bird-woman.

Hatupatu was said to have said a desperate Karakia (prayer) here and the rock opened up and let him in, saving him from the spirit-being. The hole was his entry, and the striations are representative of the claws of the Tipua. When he emerged, he defeated Kurangaituku. To see an animation of the story, click here, or an watch the story on Roadside Stories.

Some visitors to the rock will gift twigs of manuka or fern and other small gifts to the rock, in the same way as this is done at the homes of mythical Taniwha. The roading authorities have shown sufficient respect to create a small carpark and a ponga-trunk shield from the highway for Hatupatu's rock.

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