Wairaka Statue (Lady on the Rock)
Wairaka
A bronze statue on the rocks at the Whakatāne river mouth, honoring the Māori woman Wairaka, who paddled a canoe to rescue her people and is a town landmark.
According to legend, around 700 years ago the canoe Mātaatua arrived here. After the men went ashore, the canoe was swept away by the tide. Wairaka, a chief's daughter, broke the taboo and paddled to bring it back, crying out, Kia whakatāne au i ahau, meaning let me act like a man, from which the name Whakatāne derives. In 1965 her bronze statue was erected on the Tūrutu Reef at the river mouth. Whakatāne Heads, where the statue stands, offers views of fishing boats coming and going and of Moutohorā in the distance, and the legendary Muriwai Caves are nearby. It is about 15 minutes' walk from the town center and free to visit, and it can serve as the starting point of the Kohi Point Walkway.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ngā Tapuwae o Toi / Kohi Point Walkway
- Mataatua Wharenui
- Ōhope Scenic Reserve
- Ōhope Beach
- Moutohorā (Whale Island)
- Ōhiwa Harbour
- Awakeri Hot Springs
- Whakaari / White Island Scenic Flight