Whakatane River Maori Maiden Statue Bay Of Plenty NZ
Photo & Vacation Spot

At the mouth of the Whakatane River in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island of NZ, a statue symbolizing a Maori Maiden is displayed atop a large rock.

The statue of a Maori Maiden standing atop a large rock, looks out over the water at the mouth of the Whakatane River in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island of NZ. The Maori Maiden is known as Wairaka, one who took control of a terrifying experience for a group of Maori woman who were being washed out to sea in a canoe.

With her courage, the Maori woman worked together and they were all safely brought back to land. The town of Whakatane, which sits in the backdrop, was named after the this nearly disastrous event as the Maori Maiden, Wairaka, yelled "Whakatane", meaning "act like a man". This was the exact word needed to give the Maori women the strength to fight their way back and in her honor, a statue was erected on this rock.

Statue of the Maori Maiden Wairaka at the mouth of the Whakatane River, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, North island, New Zealand.