Te Arawhiti o Rangiriri – connecting our community
Panel unveiling at Bridge naming ceremony at Waahi Taakaro Golf Course.
The Maitai River/Waahi Taakaro bridge has been officially named Te Arawhiti o Rangiriri after former golf club president Rangiriri Kohe (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kuia).
An interpretation panel was unveiled during the naming ceremony, sharing the history and significance of the area to local iwi, the golf club, and recreational users.
The panel provides visitors with insight into the cultural importance of the Maitai River to iwi with sections on its ecological, economic and social history, stories at the heart of iwi’s connection to the river, formation of the golf club and the work carried out to create a Maitai recreational hub and improve resilience to flooding following the August 2022 weather event.
Robust and better able to withstand high river flows during heavy rainfall, Te Arawhiti o Rangiriri connects golfers, walkers and cyclists as they make their way through the Maitai Valley and is strong enough for vehicles to use as a crossing.
The ceremony, which coincided with the Waahi Taakaro Golf Club’s 50th Jubilee celebration, recognised the late Rangariri Kohe’s contributions as a longstanding member of the club. It was attended by iwi, club representatives and members of the community who gathered to recognise the bridge’s role in bringing people together.
