For the Maori, the two rivers that weave throughout the city of Christchurch were not only a food source and a way to travel but the river was a passageway for spirits to move, bringing healing and blessings. The Maori name for the Heathcote River is ‘Opawaho’ and was also the name of the little …
At the intersection of Judges Street and Vincent Place in Opawa once stood a small Pa – an outpost of the mighty Ngai Tahu’s northern Kaikai-a-waro (Kaiapoi) Pa. It was called Opawaho.The last chief of Opawaho was Turakipo, and he fell in love with Hineao whose father – Te Ake – was a chief over …
On 2 October 1916, Opawa joined the Great Christchurch and became under the care of the C.C.C. The Maori name for the Heathcote River is ‘Opawaho’ and this was also the name of the little settlement that sat on its banks for quite a few centuries. Opawaho means Outpost and that was exactly what it …
